Synergistic adsorption and photocatalysis study of TiO2 and activated carbon composite

The discharge of organic pollutants by the textile and dyeing industries presents an escalating threat to aquatic environments, necessitating the development of effective remediation strategies. This study introduces the utilization of graphite-like structured activated carbon (AC), derived from highland barley straw—a biomass unique to the Plateau regions of China, including Tibet, Qinghai, and Gansu—as a support material for the TiO2 catalyst. TiO2/AC composites with different TiO2 loadings were synthesized by ultrasonic impregnation. The TiO2/AC composites were found to be polycrystalline materials composed of anatase and rutile phases. The TiO2 nanoparticles are well-dispersed over the surface of the AC. The photocatalytic activity of these composites was evaluated through their capacity to degrade a methylene blue (MB) solution upon irradiation. It was observed that the inclusion of TiO2 increases the number of adsorption sites and active sites for methylene blue, with the photocatalytic activity being notably higher at a 3-wt% TiO2 loading, achieving a remarkable 99.6 % degradation efficiency for 100 mg/L MB within 100 min. The experimental kinetic data for the photocatalytic process follow the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Furthermore, TiO2/AC retains high photocatalytic activity after five reaction cycles. This research provides valuable insights into the application of biomass-derived materials for the purification of water, offering a sustainable solution to both pollution and agricultural waste challenges in Plateau areas of China.