Influence of H-Type and L-Type Activated Carbon in the Photodegradation of Methylene Blue and Phenol under UV and Visible Light Irradiated TiO₂

Juan Matos, Karina Quintana, Andreina García

Engineering of Materials and Nanotechnology Centre, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (I.V.I.C.), Caracas, Venezuela.

DOI: 10.4236/mrc.2012.11001                

Abstract

Photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) and phenol (Ph) on TiO₂ in presence of H-type and L-type activated carbons (AC) was studied. Photodegradation of MB and Ph were studied under two different lamps and results were compared against those obtained on a commercial TiO₂. Apparent first order rate constant for the degradation of MB was higher in presence of any AC in comparison of TiO₂ alone while only in presence of AC_co2-800phenol was photodegradated in shorter irradiation time than that required by TiO₂. It can be concluded that TiO₂ enhances its photoactivity by a factor up to 8.7 in the degradation of MB in presence of AC and this effect is associated to the specific surface properties of AC.

Keywords

Photocatalysis; TiO₂; Activated Carbon; Methylene Blue; Phenol

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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