Development of a TiO2/AC Composite Photocatalyst by Dry Impregnation for the Treatment of Methanol in Humid Airstreams

A dual-functional photocatalytic TiO 2 /AC composite was developed by dry impregnation for controlling pollutants through simultaneous adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation. Titanium tetra-isopropoxide (TTIP), the precursor, was effectively converted to the anatase form of TiO 2 on the carbon surface after hydrolysis and calcination. The composites, prepared using various hydrolysis and calcination conditions, were evaluated for their ability to remove methanol from humid air streams. The TiO 2 /AC composite hydrolyzed at 175 °C for 2 h and calcined at 300 °C in air for 2 h was more effective (58%) at removing methanol as compared to the composite prepared by boil deposition (35%). The experimental results demonstrated that a dry impregnation method is an effective method for preparing photocatalytic TiO 2 /AC composites.