Elaboration and Enhanced Activity of the Mixed Oxide ZrxTi1-xO2 Nano-photocatalyst

The photocatalysis activity of mixed nanocomposite ZrxTi1-xO2 catalyst was studied. The catalysts with x=0, 0.1 and 0.2 were prepared via sol-gel method in a reactor with rapid micromixing using titanium tetra- isopropoxide and zirconium tetra-propoxide precursors and n-propanol solvent. The colloids were coated on cleaned borosilicate beads and treated at temperatures in the range between 400 and 600 °C to achieve crystalline anatase phase. The prepared materials were characterized by ICP-OES, BET, TDA and optical absorption measurements. The photocatalytic experiments were carried out in a continuous-flow fixed bed reactor on the gaseous ethylene decomposing. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared material was depended on the elemental compositions and calcination temperature. The enhanced activity, 50% higher compared to pure anatase TiO2, was obtained in the material containing 10 mol% Zr and thermally treated at 500 °C.