Prepare of titanium dioxide (TiO2) at low temperature and study of its photocatalytical ability in the degradation of methylene blue aqueous solution

In this MSc thesis, the synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) catalytic powders was occurred, with simple low temperature methods and it was studied their absorption and photocatalytical ability, as concern the discoloration and degradation of standard dye methylene blue aqueous solution. For the synthesis of the catalytic powders, simple and environmental friendly methods were used, such as low temperature hydrothermal and sol-gel methods. There were totally prepared four groups of samples, three groups with TiO2 samples, using various substances as precursors and a forth group of W:TiO2 samples with W molar ratio at 1 ,3 ,5%. Samples were tested for their morphological characteristics with Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), for their crystallinity with XRD method and concerning the kind of bonds and the aggregation with the Raman method. Samples of all groups were tested for their absorption and photocatalytical ability, as concern the discoloration-degradation of standard dye aqueous solution methylene blue using various radiation systems, with transmitted radiation of different power and wavelength. The third group of samples with precursor titanium isopropoxide and HNO3 as catalyst, showed the best photocatalytic results, rival to the standard Degussa P-25 catalyst. It is admire to notice that the synthetic samples of the first three groups were treated at temperature of only 95 0C. Finally it was examined through TOC analysis if the discoloration of the standard dye MB aqueous solution leads to reduction of organic load, with fully disintegration to CO2 and H2O