Fabrication of the novel core-shell MCM-41@mTiO2 composite microspheres with large specific surface area for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of dinitro butyl phenol (DNBP)

The mesoporous MCM-41@mTiO(2) core-shell composite microspheres were synthesized successfully by combining sol-gel and simple hydrothermal treatment. The morphology and microstructure characteristics of the synthesized materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N-2 adsorption-desorption measurements, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis/DRS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results indicate that the composite material possesses obvious core/shell structure, a pure mesoporous and well-crystallized TiO2 layer (mTiO(2)), high specific surface area (316.8 m(2)/g), large pore volume (0.42 cm(3)/g) and two different pore sizes (2.6 nm and 11.0 nm). The photocatalytic activity of the novel MCM-41@mTiO(2) composite was evaluated by degrading 2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol (DNBP) in aqueous suspension under UV and visible light irradiation. The results were compared with commercial anatase TiO2 and Degussa P25 and the enhanced degradation were obtained with the synthesized MCM41@mTiO(2) composite under the same conditions, which meant that this material can serve as an efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of hazardous organic pollutants in wastewaters. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.