Photodegradation of Methylene Blue with TiO2 and TiO2/SiO2

Abstract

The experiment studied photodegradation of Methylene Blue using TiO₂ and TiO₂/SiO₂. Titanium dioxide was prepared by sol-gel method. Tetraisopropylorthotitanate (TIPT) was the precursor. They were calcined at 400 ºC for 3 hours. The properties of compound were investigated by XRD, FT-IR and SEM. The XRD pattern of titanium dioxide which was calcined at 400 °C showed only anatase phase. FT-IR spectrum of this nanoparticles exhibited Ti-O stretching and Si-O stretching and Ti-O-Si stretching. The results showed bond between Si with TiO₂. TiO₂/SiO₂  and the highest methylene blue degradation at 72.0%. The rate constant and half-life of TiO₂/SiO₂ were 0.0137 min^-1 and 45 min, respectively.