Photocatalytic activity of titania-containing mesoporous SBA-15 silica

Two kinds of titania-containing mesoporous SBA-15 silicas [clogging-free (S15-A and S15-B series) and blocked (S15-D)] were synthesized, and their photo-activities were examined. Specifically, their photocatalytic activities in photo-destructing pollutant molecules, such as phenol, salicylic acid and oestrogen molecules were studied. The results show that blocked and unblocked mesostructures have great influences on the photo-activity of such titania-containing mesoporous silicas. The clogging-free titania-containing mesoporous silicas S15-A and S15-B show some advantages in destructing ‘big’ pollutant molecules (oestrogen) over S15-D, which is quite active for destructing ‘small’ pollutant molecules (phenol and salicylic acid).