In situ hydrothermal synthesis of a novel hierarchically porous TS-1/modified-diatomite composite for methylene blue (MB) removal by the synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 462; pp. 191 - 199
• Main Authors: Yuan, Weiwei, Yuan, Peng, Liu, Dong, Yu, Wenbin, Laipan, Minwang, Deng, Liangliang, Chen, Fanrong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.01.2016
• Subjects: adsorption; coatings; diatomaceous earth; electrostatic interactions; Hierarchically porous structure; In situ hydrothermal method; Methylene blue; nanoparticles; photocatalysis; surface area; synergism; Synergistic effect; TS-1/modified-diatomite composite; wastewater treatment; zeolites; Hierarchically porous structure; TS-1/modified-diatomite composite; In situ hydrothermal method; Synergistic effect; Methylene blue
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2015.09.067

[Display omitted] Hierarchically porous TS-1/modified-diatomite composites with high removal efficiency for methylene blue (MB) were prepared via a facile in situ hydrothermal route. The surface charge state of the diatomite was modified to enhance the electrostatic interactions, followed by in situ hydrothermal coating with TS-1 nanoparticles. The zeolite loading amount in the composites could be adjusted by changing the hydrothermal time. The highest specific surface area and micropore volume of the obtained composites were 521.3m2/g and 0.254cm3/g, respectively, with an optimized zeolite loading amount of 96.8%. Based on the synergistic effect of efficient adsorption and photocatalysis resulting from the newly formed hierarchically porous structure and improved dispersion of TS-1 nanoparticles onto diatomite, the composites’ removal efficiency for MB reached 99.1% after 2h of photocatalytic reaction, even higher than that observed using pure TS-1 nanoparticles. Moreover, the superior MB removal kinetics of the composites were well represented by a pseudo-first-order model, with a rate constant (5.28×10−2min−1) more than twice as high as that of pure TS-1 nanoparticles (2.43×10−2min−1). The significant dye removal performance of this novel TS-1/modified-diatomite composite indicates that it is a promising candidate for use in waste water treatment.