High performance nano-titania photocatalytic paper composite. Part II: Preparation and characterization of natural zeolite-based nano-titania composite sheets and study of their photocatalytic activity

A novel paper composite with high photocatalytic performance was fabricated using natural zeolite (clinoptilolite)-based nanosized TiO2. Photocatalytic materials, from sol–gel derived TiO2 colloids to its coupling with zeolite, have been designed, prepared and characterized. As-prepared anatase TiO2 on zeolite particles were readily used in photocatalytic paper, which revealed zeolite-TiO2 particles dispersed on a dense network of fibers with microvoids. Natural zeolite-based TiO2 composite sheets described here decomposed gaseous toluene very effectively after UV irradiation and its removal efficiency was higher than that accomplished by photocatalytic paper made with Degussa P25 TiO2 or Ahlstrom commercial photocatalytic non-woven paper.