Photocatalytic Oxidation of NO_xonCaO/TiO₂

Abstract

Removal of $NO_x$ on $CaO/TiO_2$ photocatalyst manufactured by the addition of $Ca(OH)_2$ was measured in relation with the amount of $Ca(OH)_2$ and calcination temperature. In case of pure $TiO_2$, the $NO_x$ removal decreased greatly with the increase of calcination temperature from $500^{\circ}C\;to\;700^{\circ}C$, whereas in the photocatalyst added with $Ca(OH)_2$, the removed amount of $NO_x$ was high and constant regardless of calcination temperature. Considering $NO_x$ removal patterns depending on the amount of $Ca(OH)_2$ added(50, 30, 10wt%), high removal rate showed at the photocatalysts containing less than 30wt% of $Ca(OH)_2$, and it was about 30% higher than that of pure $TiO_2$. From the XRD patterns, it is seen that the addition of $Ca(OH)_2$ contributes to maintaining the anatase structure that is favourable to photocatalysis. It also indicates that the possibility of the formation of calcium titanate($CaTiO_3$) by reacting with $TiO_2$ above $700^{\circ}C$. Apart from the favourable crystalline structure, the addition of $Ca(OH)_2$ helped increase the alkalinity of photocatalyst surface, thus promoting the photooxidation reaction of $NO_x$.