Efficiency of La-doped TiO2 calcined at different temperatures in photocatalytic degradation of β-blockers

Publication date: Available online 17 January 2017 Source:Arabian Journal of Chemistry Author(s): Sanja J. Armaković, Mirjana Grujić-Brojčin, Maja Šćepanović, Stevan Armaković, Aleksandar Golubović, Biljana Babić, Biljana F. Abramović Photocatalytic activity of titania–based photocatalysts doped with 1% La have been tested in UVA radiation-induced degradation of two β-blockers – metoprolol tartrate (MET) and propranolol hydrochloride (PRO). Photocatalysts have been synthesized by sol–gel process followed by calcination at various temperatures in the range of 450−750 °C. The great impact of calcination temperature on the structural, compositional and morphological properties of prepared catalysts has been revealed by XRPD, SEM, BET and Raman scattering measurements. Doped catalysts calcined at 450–650 °C, with dominant anatase phase and developed mesoporous structure, have displayed higher photocatalytic performance than much less porous samples calcined at 700–750 °C, with sodium hexatitanate as dominant phase. Also, La-doped anatase sample have shown higher efficiency in degradation of MET and PRO in comparison to the efficiency of undoped TiO2 nanopowders calcined at same temperatures. The quenching effects of various scavengers suggest that the major role in degradation of MET may be attributed to reactive radicals, whereas photogenerated holes are mainly responsible for degradation of PRO. Applying density functional theory (DFT) calcula...
Source: Arabian Journal of Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research