Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by a combination of TiO2 and activated carbon fibers

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution was investigated using TiO2 immobilized on activated carbon fibers (ACFs). The TiO2 and ACF combination (TiO2/ACF) was prepared by using epoxy as the precursor of the link between TiO2 and ACFs, followed by calcination at 460 °C in a N2 atmosphere. The TiO2/ACF composite prepared was easier to handle than the original TiO2 powder in suspension. More significantly, the TiO2/ACF composite can be used repeatedly without a decline in photodegradation ability. After six cycles, the amount of MB removal for the TiO2/ACF composite was still slightly higher than that for fresh P25 TiO2 in suspension. Through measurement of chemical oxygen demand in the solution and the concentration of ammonium generated during degradation of MB, it was confirmed that MB molecules are mineralized instead of adsorbed by ACFs.