Photocatalytic Characteristics of Nanometer‐Sized Titania Powders Fabricated by a Homogeneous‐Precipitation Process

The photocatalytic characteristics of nanometer‐sized TiO 2 powder prepared by a homogeneous‐precipitation process (HPP) were compared with those of a commercial powder to determine which powder was better able to remove metal ions, such as lead and copper, from aqueous equimolar metal‐ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution. In aqueous lead‐EDTA solution, the TiO 2 powder fabricated by HPP had 3.5 times higher initial adsorption of lead ion and a 1.5 times faster rate for the complete elimination of lead ions than did the commercial powder. In an aqueous copper‐EDTA solution, the TiO 2 powder fabricated by HPP also showed higher initial adsorption and a faster elimination rate for copper ions than did the commercial powder. Similarly, the photocatalytic properties were enhanced as the specific surface area increased, and the TiO 2 powder fabricated by HPP, which consisted of coagulated primary particles 20 nm in size, with chestnut‐burr shapes, had a larger specific surface area (∼180 m 2 /g) than that of the commercial powder (∼55 m 2 /g).