Preparation of Nanosized TiO2 Powder from Spent Titanium Chip by Sol-Gel Method

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Environmental Chemistry

Background:

• Spent titanium chips represent a potential source for valuable materials.
• Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a well-known photocatalyst with applications in environmental remediation.
• Developing cost-effective synthesis methods for TiO2 is crucial for its wider adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize nanosized TiO2 powder from spent titanium chips using a sol-gel method.
• To characterize the synthesized TiO2 powder's physical and structural properties.
• To evaluate the photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized TiO2 for methylene blue (MB) degradation.

Main Methods:

• Sol-gel synthesis of TiO2 from titanium chips, followed by NaOH neutralization.
• Characterization using particle size analysis, BET surface area measurement, and X-ray diffraction (XRD).
• Photocatalytic activity assessment via methylene blue decomposition in a liquid phase stirred reactor.

Main Results:

• The synthesized TiO2 powder has a rutile crystal structure and is nanosized.
• BET surface area was 118 m²/g, with an average particle size of 266.5 nm.
• The prepared TiO2 showed a maximum decomposition rate of 62% for MB at pH 8, though P-25 was 1.5 times more effective.

Conclusions:

• Nanosized TiO2 powder can be successfully synthesized from spent titanium chips.
• The synthesized TiO2 exhibits photocatalytic activity, with degradation efficiency increasing with powder concentration.
• Further optimization is needed to match the performance of commercial TiO2 (P-25).