Effect of TiO2 doping technique on decomposition of crude oil absorbed into expanded graphite

Two expanded graphite (EG) doped with TiO2, marked as EG/TiO2-1 and EG/TiO2-2, were prepared, respectively, by heating a mixture of titanium isopropoxide and water-washed expansible graphite, or a mixture of titanium isopropoxide and water-washed and dried expansible graphite. Results show that the maximum sorption capacities of EG/TiO2-1 and EG/TiO2-2 for crude oil are 57 g/g and 55 g/g, respectively. Under UV irradiation, the crude oil absorbed into EG could be decomposed, and, doping TiO2 into EG could promote the decomposition of absorbed crude oil. The decomposition rate of the absorbed crude oil, however, is related with TiO2 doping technique. The crude oil absorbed into EG/TiO2-2 is decomposed at a faster rate.