Application of TiO2-mounted activated carbon to the removal of phenol from water

TiO2-mounted activated carbon was prepared through hydrolytic precipitation of TiO2 from teraisopropyl orthotitanate and following heat treatment at 650–900 °C for 1 h under a flow of nitrogen. The removal of phenol from its aqueous solution under UV irradiation was measured on TiO2-mounted activated carbons thus prepared. Although BET surface area of TiO2-mounted activated carbons decreased drastically in comparison with the original activated carbon, the efficiency of phenol removal under UV irradiation was high. The sample heated at 900 °C, which consisted mainly of rutile phase, showed the highest total removal of phenol. Efficiency of phenol degradation is reduced because of phenol adsorption on the catalyst.