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Bacterial cellulose (BC) was chosen as carrier of nanometer titanium dioxide due to its superfine network structure. BC/titanium dioxide composite membrane was prepared by a sol–gel method using tetraisopropyl titanate as starting material. Photocatalytic properties of composite membrane were studied using methyl orange as degradation agent. Titania nanoparticles were successfully loaded on bacterial cellulose membrane. The degradation rate of methyl orange solution was up to 100% under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cellulose (BC) was chosen as a support for nanometer titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles due to its superfine network structure. The composite membrane of TiO2/BC doped with rare earth elements was prepared by a sol-gel method using tetraisopropyl titanate as starting material. Photocatalysis properties of this composite membrane were estimated by using methyl orange as a degradation agent. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectra showed that rare earth ions were incorporated into TiO2/BC membrane. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra showed that the resulting titanium dioxide was anatase type, which didn't change after doping. Compared with a pure TiO2/BC membrane, photocatalysis efficiency was significantly enhanced for the doped one. The degradation rate of methyl orange solution for a composite membrane doped with Ce4+ was up to 100%, while with La3+ it was was up to 79.7%. The optimal dosage of Ce4+ was 2 mmol/L, while the most suitable concentration of La3+ was 5 mmol/L within the experimental range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]