Photocatalytic Efficiency of Pure Silica Transparent Open-cell Sponges Coated with TiO2 for Cr(VI) Removal

LÖFFLER, FRANK B.; BUCHARSKY, ETHEL C.; SCHELL, KARL G; VERA, MARÍA L.; TRAID, HERNÁN D.; DWOJAK, ANABELA N.; LITTER, MARTA I.

Turín

Congreso; 11th European Meeting on Solar Chemistry and Photocatalysis Environmental Applications, SPEA 11; 2022

Universidad de Torino

Transparent silica sponges can be modified by TiO2 immobilization to be used in photoreactors for removal of pollutants from water and air. A large surface area and the proper distribution of light within the whole structure are necessary; thus, open-celled materials are optimal. The most conventional technique for preparing cellular materials is the replica procedure (Schwartzwalder method). For the successful preparation of transparent open-celled structures, the concentration of aqueous nanoscale SiO2 slurries, the temperature for burning-out the resulting polymer and the sintering of the remaining SiO2 framework have to be taken into account.This work is aimed at the comparison of the photocatalytic activity of nanoparticle-TiO2 layers applied on transparent glass sponges of different pore size and specific surface areas (SSA). The activity has been tested using hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), a very toxic and carcinogenic pollutant; EDTA was used as a synergetic compound.