Synergistic effects of TiO2 and Cu2O in UV/TiO2/zeolite-based systems on photodegradation of bisphenol A.

In this study, TiO2/zeolite (TZ)-based composite was utilized to degrade bisphenol A (BPA) under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The effects of the TiO2 and Cu2O doses in TZ and Cu2O/TiO2/zeolite (CTZ) on the rate of BPA removal were identified, respectively. The surface area of TZ declined as the TiO2 loading increased. The photodegradation rate (k) of BPA in the TZ and CTZ systems fitted pseudo-first-order kinetics. Under UV (365 nm) irradiation, the k values of TiO2 (20%)/zeolite (80%), TiO2 (40%)/zeolite (60%), TiO2 (60%)/zeolite (40%), and TiO2 (80%)/zeolite (20%) were 0.51, 0.55, 0.97, and 0.91 h-1, respectively. In the UV (365nm)/TiO2 (60%)/zeolite (40%) system, the k values of CTZ with 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30% Cu2O added were 1.50, 1.04, 1.15, 1.88, and 0.47h-1, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of TZ was enhanced by adding Cu2O. The optimal dosage of TiO2 in the TZ system was 60% and that of Cu20 in the CTZ system was 20%. p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde (p-HBA), p-hydroxyacetophenone (p-HAP), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HBA acid) and hydroquinone (HQ) were intermediates ofBPA photodegradation in the UV/TZ system and the rates of degradation followed the order HQ > p - HBA acid > BPA > p - HAP > p - HBA.