Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Aqueous Nitrobenzene Using Graphitic Carbon–TiO 2 Composites

Graphitic carbon–TiO 2 nanocomposites with different carbon loadings were synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal method. The prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis. The XRD results confirmed the presence of graphite in the composite without alteration of the TiO 2 structure. The photocatalytic efficiencies of the synthesized composites were determined by the degradation of aqueous nitrobenzene (NB) under UV irradiation. Because of the presence of graphitic carbon in the composite, there was an increase in the adsorption of NB (24%) on the composite surface, which led to a higher photocatalytic yield (up to 96% in 4 h at a graphitic carbon content of 1%). NB degradation was corroborated by chemical oxygen demand determinations.