PHOTOLYSIS OF THE PHENOLIC SOLUTION IN THE PRESENCE OF TiO2 NANOPARTICLES

TiO2 nanoparticles have been prepared using sol-gel method from titanium(IV), isopropoxide, isopropyl alcohol, ammonia hydroxide as precursors at mild condition without any post heat treatment for crystallization. The nanocrystalline TiO2 powders were composed of rutile form TiO2 by X-ray diffraction. The size of nanoparticles was examined by transmission electron microscopy and is about 10–15 nm, and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area of the rutile nanopowder makes up 159.6 m2/g. Photochemical degra¬dation of phenol solution under ultraviolet irradiation of the synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles has been carried out