Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Silica-based Sand Quartz as the Supporting TiO2 Photocatalyst

TiO2-SiO2 photocatalyst was prepared by immobilizing TiO2 on natural quartz sand SiO2. The Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the morphology and structure of the photocatalyst. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized catalyst was evaluated by applying the catalyst for photocatalytic decomposition of chromium (VI). The concentration of chromium (VI) before and after the photocatalytic decomposition was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). SEM-EDS results of TiO2-SiO2 photocatalyst showed homogenous aggregate. XRD characterization result of the synthesized catalyst showed that TiO2 was in anatase crystalline state, while SiO2 was in amorphous state. The results of the present study indicate that 20% (w/w) TiO2-SiO2 photocatalyst has the highest activity by reducing 92.24% chromium (VI) in the photocatalytic decomposition test.