Pt-doped TiO2 nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of phenols in wastewater

Pt-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles catalysts were synthesized and evaluated for UV photocatalytic degradation of phenol and 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) in synthetic wastewater solutions. The catalysts were synthesized by immobilizing colloidal Pt nanoparticles onto titanium dioxide (rutile TiO₂). Several analytical tools, such as standard BET isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), were used to investigate the specific surface area, structure, and size distribution of the catalysts and its components. The catalytic activity was measured in a batch photoreactor containing solutions of phenol and 2-CP independently, with UV irradiation of 450 W. UV-visible spectrophotometer was used for analyzing the concentration of phenols in solution at different time intervals during the photodegradation experiment. Parameters affecting the photocatalytic process such as concentration of the catalyst, solution pH, and phenols concentration have been investigated. Results obtained revealed that Pt/TiO₂ showed a higher activity for UV- photocatalytic degradation of both phenol and 2-CP pollutants in solution (as compared to the rutile TiO₂).. The degradation efficiency values were 87.7 and 100% for both of phenol and 2-Cp, respectively, under optimized conditions (0.5 g/L catalyst with a pollutant concentration of 50 mg/L after irradiation time of 180 minutes).