Characterization and photocatalytic properties of TiO2-nanosols synthesized by hydrothermal process at low temperature

Transparent nanocrystalline pure anatase titania (nano-TiO2) was synthesized by hydrothermal process at 200 °C. Photocatalytic activity of the nano-TiO2 as in the form of sol was tested for degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) and Reactive Red 120 (RR-120) in aqueous solutions. Structural and physico-chemical properties of the nano-TiO2 were characterized using powder XRD, SEM, BET, FT-IR and elemental analyses. Complete photodegradation of RR-120 was successfully achieved by aid of the nano-TiO2 whereas MB was not degraded, maybe because of reversible color change in nano-TiO2 sol/MB mixture after the UV irradiation was stopped. Potocatalytic activity of the synthesized the nano-TiO2 for degradation of RR-120 was compared with Degussa P-25 at optimum conditions determined for RR-120. It was found that the nano-TiO2 can be repeatedly used with higher photocatalytic activity than Degussa P-25.