TiO2 supported over SBA-15: An efficient photocatalyst for the pesticide degradation using solar light

Photocatalytic degradation and mineralization of pesticides are studied over TiO2 supported mesoporous SBA-15 composite system using solar light. TiO2 is immobilized over SBA-15 by solid sate dispersion method. The catalysts are characterized by XRD, surface area, UV–Vis diffused reflectance spectra, SEM and TEM. The detailed photocatalytic degradation studies are carried out over TiO2, SBA-15 and different TiO2 wt% supported SBA-15. The activity evaluation parameters such as catalyst amount, pH, and pollutant initial concentration are studied taking isoproturon as a model compound and established conditions for pesticide degradation. The optimum degradation is achieved over 10 wt% TiO2/SBA-15 within 30 min and the reaction is following pseudo-first order kinetics. The isoproturon mineralization is monitored with TOC reduction and it takes around 9 h for disappearance. The commercial pesticide solutions containing imidacloprid and phosphamidon are also successfully degraded over these composites with the established conditions. The data indicates that 10 wt% TiO2/SBA-15 composite is an effective and highly active system for the pesticide degradations.