Preparation of the TiO2 photocatalyst using pressurized ammonia

The industrial hydrated amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO2 ź xH2O) was modified by treatment inside a chemical reactor under elevated pressure at low temperatures for 4 hours in an ammonia atmosphere. On the basis of the FTIR/DRS analysis the presence of nitrogen was confirmed. The XRD patterns of all of the catalysts exhibit mainly the diffraction lines of anatase phases. The photocatalytic activity of the modified photocatalysts was determined and compared to TiO2-P25 (Degussa, Germany). The high rate of phenol and dye degradation was obtained for the catalysts modified at 180°/5atm. TiO2-P25 showed similar activity in phenol decomposition like TiO2-15bar, whereas it was more active in dye decomposition.