Preparation and characterization of WO3/TiO2 composite catalysts for the photoreduction of chromium(VI) in aqueous solutions
Keywords:
photocatalysis, composite photocatalyst, tungsten trioxide, titanium dioxide, impregnation
Abstract
Several WO3/TiO2 composite photocatalysts were prepared by impregnation of metatitanic acid in an aqueous solution of ammonium paratungstate (APT). The obtained photocatalysts were characterized by DSC-TG analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The photoreduction of potassium dichromate was used as a model reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of prepared catalysts. The influence of methanol on the rate of photoreduction was also investigated. It was determined that the most active catalyst is obtained when the initial ratio of APT/TiO2 is 1:4 and uncalcined metatitanic acid is used as a raw material for titania.
