Titania/C-n TAB Nanoskeleton as adsorbent and photocatalyst for removal of alkylphenols dissolved in water

We report here on the removal of alkylphenols (phenol, 4-n-propylphenol, 4-n-heptylphenol and 4-nonylphenol) dissolved in water using the composite particles of nanocrystalline titania and alkyltrimethylammonium bromide (CnH2n+1N(CH3)(3)Br, C(n)TAB; n = 12, 14, 16 and 18) (named as TiO2/C(n)TAB Nanoskeleton) as adsorbents and photocatalysts. In particular, the adsorption of alkylphenols onto TiO2/C(n)TAB Nanoskeleton in water was investigated in terms of hydrophobic interaction between alkylphenols and C(n)TAB, surface area, pore structure and crystal size of TiO2/C(n)TAB Nanoskeleton. We revealed that C(n)TAB incorporated in the TiO2/C(n)TAB Nanoskeleton promotes the adsorption of alkylphenols onto TiO2/C(n)TAB Nanoskeleton due to the hydrophobic interaction between alkylphenols and C(n)TAB. On the other hand, the surface area, pore structure and crystal size of TiO2/C(n)TAB Nanoskeleton did not affect the adsorption of allcylphenols onto TiO2/C(n)TAB Nanoskeleton. We also found that the alkylphenols dissolved in water were completely removed by the combination of adsorption and photocatalytic degradation by the TiO2/C(n)TAB Nanoskeleton under UV irradiation. These results prove that the TiO2/C(n)TAB Nanoskeleton acts as in tandem an adsorbent and a photocatalyst for removal of alkylphenols dissolved in water.