$TiO_2$-Encapsulated EFAL-Removed Zeolite Y as a New Photocatalyst for Photodegradation of Azo Dyes in Aqueous Solution

Application of a new photocatalyst has been attempted to improve the efficiency and rates of photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes by using a model dye such as Methyl Orange. As a new photocatalyst, $TiO_2$ encapsulated EFAL-removed zeolite Y ($TiO_2$ /EFAL-removed zeolite Y) has been synthesized by ion-exchange in the mixture of EFAL-removed zeolite Y with 0.05 M aqueous [$(NH_4)_2 TiO(C_2O_4)_2.H_2O$] [$TiO(C_2O_4)_2.H_2O$]. This new photocatalyst has been characterized by measuring XRD, IR and reflectance absorption spectra as well as ICP analysis, and it was found that the framework structure of $TiO_2$ /EFAL-removed zeolite Y is not changed by removing the extra-framework aluminum (EFAL) from the normal zeolite Y and the $TiO_2$ inside the photocatalyst exists in the form of $(TiO^{2+})_n$ nanoclusters. Based on the ICP analysis, the Si/Al ratio of the $TiO_2$ /EFAL-removed zeolite Y and the weight of $TiO_2$ were determined to be 23 and 0.061g in 1.0g photocatalyst, respectively. It was also found that adsorption of the azo dye in the $TiO_2$ /EFAL-removed zeolite is very effective (about 80 % of the substrate used). This efficient adsorption contributes to the synergistic photocatalytic activities of the $TiO_2$ /EFAL-removed zeolite by minimizing the required flux diffusion of the substrate. Thus, the photocatalytic reduction of methyl orange (MO) was found to be 8 times more effective in the presence of $TiO_2$ /EFAL-removed zeolite Y than in the presence of $TiO_2$ /normal zeolite Y. Furthermore, the photocatalytic reduction of MO by using 1.0 g of the $TiO_2$ /EFAL-removed zeolite Y containing 0.061g of $TiO_2$ is much faster than that carried out by using 1.0 g of Degussa P-25.