Photocatalytic properties of boehmite–SnO2 composites for the degradation of phenol

• Composites of boehmite–SnO2 were successfully obtained by coprecipitation.
• The small particles of SnO2 improved the optical properties of boehmite matrix.
• High photodegradation of phenol was achieved with Sn4+ contents of 10% mol.
• The boehmite-SnO2 dried at 150 °C showed the highest photocatalytic activity.

Boehmite (AlOOH) and SnO2 composites with different Sn4+ contents were obtained by the coprecipitation method, drying the materials at a desired temperature ranging from 100 to 250 °C. The photocatalytic properties of the composites were tested in the degradation and mineralization of phenol. The boehmite-SnO2 composite with 10 mol% of Sn4+ featured an improved photocatalytic activity eliminating phenol under UV light irradiation, where the photodegradation rate was found to be 2.9 times more active than that of boehmite and bulk SnO2. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was influenced by the optical-electronic properties displayed by the small SnO2 particles. The drying temperature effect on the photocatalytic properties of the composites was also studied. The possible photocatalytic degradation mechanism was considered as a function of the interaction between boehmite and the small SnO2 particles.

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