AgBr/Al-MCM-41 visible-light photocatalyst for gas-phase decomposition of CH3CHO

AgBr/Al-MCM-41 catalyst was active for the photooxidation of acetaldehyde in the gas phase under visible and UV light. Upon visible light illumination, continuous production of CO2 with a decrease in CH3CHO concentration was observed without the destruction of AgBr. The crystallite sizes of AgBr increased, as seen from powder X-ray diffraction after photocatalytic reaction under both visible and UV irradiation. It appears that AgBr together with Ag0 is the photoactive species in the decomposition of CH3CHO, and the high-surface-area Al-MCM-41 helps in high dispersion of AgBr on the support.