Adsorption and degradation of toluene over TiO2 supported on bamboo charcoal

TiO2 supported on bamboo charcoal (TiO2/C) was prepared by impregnating the charcoal with a precursor and baking. The resulting material was characterized by SEM and EPR. Adsorption and degradation of toluene over the TiO2/C under a UV lamp, fluorescent lamp, incandescent lamp and sunlight was determined. Results showed that pore size in bamboo charcoal was centered around 200 nm and TiO2 was loaded oil the rim and surface of the pores. The number of the un-paired electrons increased from 8.7 x 10(13) For bamboo charcoal to 8.9 x 10(17) for TiO2/C. The oxidation-reduction ability of TiO2/C was significantly higher than that of bamboo charcoal. The toluene removal efficiency and the released CO2 were 94.50% and 122 mg/m(3) respectively after toluene was exposed to TiO2/C under UV for 12 h. The corresponding figures were 76.80% and 60 mg/m(3) under sunlight for 12h in TiO2/C.