Photocatalytic efficiency of pure silica transparent open-cell sponges coated with TiO2 for Cr(VI) removal

F. B. LOFFLER; E.C. BUCHARSKY; K.G. SCHELL; M.L. VERA; H.D. TRAID; A. DWOJAK; M.I. LITTER

Conferencia; 11 European Conference on Solar Chemistry and Photocatalysis: Environmental Applications (SPEA11); 2022

Transparent glass sponges were prepared by the polymer replica technique and coated with P25 TiO2. The structure of the sponges has been characterized by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. µ - Computer tomography volume image analysis was used for the calculation of pore size and specific surface area. The sponges have been coated with P25 TiO2 by immersion in a TiO2 suspension. The activity has been tested through the transformation of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in the presence of EDTA at pH 2. The obtained pseudo-first order rate constants have been used to evaluate the photocatalytic activity. The sponges exhibited a higher catalytic activity than TiO2 coated glass plates. The results are promissory for application in photoreactors for transformation of pollutants in water and air.