Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Ti-pillared Bentonite

Ti-pillared bentonite has been successfully prepared using a modified method that can induce the transformation of TiO2 pillar from amorphous to anatase phase at a low temperature (150℃). The value of d001 =1.94 nm obtained by Ti-pillared bentonite is larger than that of corresponding raw clay (1.56 nm). Due to large numbers of Ti-pillars formed, the Ti-pillared bentonite shows an excellent ability in adsorbing Rhodamine B (RB). The photocatalytic activity and kinetic equation are investigated by decomposing RB solution under the UV irradiation. It is found that the Tipillared bentonite shows super photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RB solution compared with the untreated bentonite and pure TiO2, and the kinetic equation of the degradation of RB solution is a 1.5-oder equation.