Photocatalytic activity of rubber sheet impregnated with TiO2 particles and its recyclability

The preparation of rubber sheet impregnated with titanium dioxide particles is presented. This method is simple and low cost based on the use of commercial TiO₂ powder directly mixing with rubber latex (60% HA) and distilled water. The morphology and roughness of the sheet surface increased with increasing amount of distilled water. Sheet impregnated with anatase (Imp-An) showed uniform, small grains with dense structure and well surface coverage more than one with P25 (Imp-P25). Their photocatalytic activities were evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as a model organic dye compound. These impregnated sheets could degrade MB solution under UV-light irradiation. Comparing with the commercial TiO₂ samples in powder form (anatase from Carlo Erba and Degussa P25) the efficiencies of photocatalytic degradation of MB fall in the decreasing order as: P25 (powder) > anatase (Carlo Erba) (powder) > Imp-An sheet > Imp-P25 sheet. However, the impregnated sheet has an advantage over the loose powder that the catalyst sheet can be recovered after used and can be reused.