Enhancement of Photocatalytic Performance with Metal Oxide V2O5 Catalyst Under Different Light Source Illumination

Abstract

For utilizing of multifunctional catalysts in the photocatalytic systems, V2O5 nanopowders with addition of different metal oxides were prepared by a facile solid-state dispersion method, and then characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray powder diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectra. Photocatalytic activities of catalysts were evaluated by degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). Degradation rates of BPA and its mineralization effectiveness were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and total organic carbon (TOC) measurements. The 50wt% Bi2O3-V2O5 showed a total degradation (100%) of BPA and almost total TOC removal value (98%) in 45min. Results indicated that activity of pure V2O5 could be increased by doping of second metal oxides. Optimum operation conditions were designated by changing the reaction parameters such as light source, presence of peroxide, and catalyst type. Improvements of surface hydroxyl group frequency and the chemical interaction between two metal oxides were presumed to enhanced activity.