Hybrid TiO₂−SiMgOX Composite for Combined Chemisorption and Photocatalytic Elimination of Gaseous H₂S

Cheap natural sepiolite clay and TiO 2 in the anatase form can easily be converted into an efficient hybrid adsorbent/photocatalytic material, usable for H 2 S and SO 2 capture and odor elimination. This can be achieved by extrusion of powder mixtures combined with coating of photocatalytically active titania. By means of the sorption capacity of the sepiolite, it is possible to fixate gaseous sulfur species and by subsequent or simultaneous use of sunlight or artificial light sources, photocatalytic oxidation into oxidized sulfur compounds can be achieved without SO 2 release. The formation of such compounds as final products makes it possible to regenerate the composite material after saturation by washing with normal water. This technology constitutes an economically promising, sustainable, nontoxic, future method for H 2 S elimination from the gas phase in sewage and wastewater treatment plants.