Photocatalytic activity of TiO ₂ coated porous silica beads on degradation of cumene hydroperoxide

Abstract Recently, due to an increasing global concern on environmental safety, titanium dioxide (TiO ₂ ) photocatalyst has been extensively researched for use as air and water pollution treatments. This study was initiative for producing an economically viable TiO ₂ photocatalyst material with recyclability for degradation of CHP contaminated wastewater. TiO ₂ P‐25, a well‐known photocatalyst, with a proper amount (15% w/w of CAC ) was coated on porous silica beads ( ECOLITE ^® ) by granulation technique, using high calcium aluminate cement ( CAC ) as a binder ( EC + CAC +15% w/w TiO ₂ P‐25). The experiments revealed that high concentration CHP solutions were completely degraded by EC + CAC +15% w/w TiO ₂ P‐25 within 5 and 7 hours. The recyclability of EC + CAC +15% w/w TiO ₂ P‐25 was evaluated by investigation the degradation activity of freshly prepared CHP solution under UV light irradiation using the repetitive photocatalyst beads for 6 runs. HPLC analyses indicated that the CHP degradation was completed in the 1 ^st run and down to over 90% in the 6 ^th run. Hence, EC + CAC +15% w/w TiO ₂ P‐25 showed a long durability and good recyclability for CHP degradation, resulted from the good adherence of hydration product layer of CAC for TiO ₂ particles as well as its large surface area that offered good adsorption for CHP .