Abstract: Nanocrystal and porous TiO2 microbeads with high surface area and narrow pore size distribution were prepared by sol-gel technique in the presence of Lutensol TO series (iso-tridecanol) polyoxyethylene ether nonionic surfactants. The resultant TiO2 microbeads were characterized by TEM, SEM, TG-DSC, XRD, and N2 adsorption. The photocatalytic performance of TiO2 microbeads was evaluated through degradation of methylene blue and compared with the commercial Degussa P25 nano-TiO2. The results showed that at optimal treatment temperature of 425 ℃, anatase-type TiO2 microbeads with particle size of0.7-1.0μm were obtained. The microbeads have porous structure with a BET specific surface area of 70.5 m2/g, total pore volume of 0.12 cm3/g, average pore diameter of 4.26 nm, and crystal size of 12 nm. The TiO2 microbeads exhibited similar photocatalytic activity to Degussa P25 for the degradation of methylene blue.

Key words: porous titania microbead, photocatalysis, sol-gel method, iso-tridecanol polyoxyethylene ether, nonionic surfactant