title: Hollow mesoporous TiO2 microspheres for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen in water.
abstract: Hollow core-shell mesoporous TiO2 microspheres were synthesized by a template-free solvothermal route for efficient photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda data revealed a micrometer-sized mesoporous anatase TiO2 hollow sphere with large surface area and efficient light harvesting. For the photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen in 60 min, the conversion fraction of the drug increased from 88% over commercial Degussa P25 TiO2 to 94% over hollow spheres with about 25% increase in the initial reaction rate. Even after 10 repeated runs, the recycled hollow spheres showed good photodegradation activity. The intermediates generated in the photocatalytic reactions were eventually converted into molecules that are easier to handle. The simple fabrication route would facilitate the development of photocatalysts for the decomposition of environmental contaminants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, National Ilan University, 1, Sec. 1, Shen-Lung Road, I-Lan, 260, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, P.O. Box 13-318, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Ta
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, National Ilan University, 1, Sec. 1, Shen-Lung Road, I-Lan, 260, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, P.O. Box 13-318, Taipei, 106, Taiwan. Electronic address: yhliou@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Sofia Ya Hsuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liou
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D008027:Light; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D010782:Photolysis; D016062:Porosity; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C009495:titanium dioxide; D000082:Acetaminophen; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Acetaminophen; Mesoporous; Photocatalytic; TiO(2)