Photocatalytic properties of titania supported on micro-crystal muscovite

TiO2-loaded micro-crystal muscovite composite photocatalyst was prepared by sol-gel process using micro-crystal muscovite as the supporter and tetranbutyl titanate as the titanic source. The material was characterized by X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electronic Microscope. The influence of UV light on Methylene Blue and the role of micro-crystal muscovite, nano-TiO2 powders and TiO2 loaded micro-crystal muscovite in the Methylene Blue solution were investigated. The micro-crystal muscovite has an excellent ability of absorption and the nano TiO2 powders have better photocatalytic activity for decomposition of Methylene Blue. The TiO2-loaded micro-crystal muscovite photocatalyst has an excellent photocatalytic activity for degradation of the Methylene Blue and the degradation rate of the 100 ml Methylene Blue solution with 5 mg/L concentration is about 100% under UV irradiation for 4 h at room temperature used nano-TiO2/MCM (micro-crystal muscovite) as photocatalyst.