Immobilised anatase on clay mineral particles as a photocatalyst for herbicides degradation

Materials consisting of anatase linked to Laponite particles were synthesized by the reaction of TiOSO4 with Laponite, and were used for the degradation of pesticides. All these materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR, Raman, TEM, specific surface area and porosity determinations. Based on the amount of photoactive phase per unit mass of the clay mineral, not based on the total weight of the catalysts, these porous catalysts were displaying a high degradation rate than commercial P25. The TiO2 immobilized clay mineral catalysts can sediment in few minutes and could be readily separated out from a slurry system after the photocatalytic reaction. Settling properties of these catalysts are enormously high in aqueous media in contrast to P25.

► Laponite-anatase nanomaterials were used for the degradation of pesticides.
► Novel material consisting of anatase crystals linked to laponite clay fragments were synthesised by the reaction of TiOSO4 with laponite.
► Based on the Ti/clay ratio, these catalysts showed a high degradation rate when compared with P25.
► The clay supports facilitate the immobilized photocatalysts to be easily precipitated and could be readily separated out from a slurry system after the photocatalytic reaction.
► Settling properties of these catalysts are very high in aqueous media and achieve sedimentation within a few hours.