Scalable synthesis of millimeter-sized porous MgTi4(PO4)6 photocatalyst via glass-ceramic combined acid-leaching route

•MgO•TiO2•P2O5 glass frit particles were prepared and heated-treated.•Porous photocatalyst was synthesized by the acid-leaching of glass-ceramic particles•The photocatalyst has MgTi4(PO4)6 as the main crystalline phase.•The millimeter-sized particles were directly used for dye degradation.•The used photocatalyst were easily recovered after the application. Glass frit particles were prepared by conventional melting and water quenching method. The frit crystallized to form a glass-ceramic with MgTi4(PO4)6 as the crystalline phase. A porous glass-ceramic material consisting of MgTi4(PO4)6 crystal nanoflakes were successfully obtained by acid leaching of the glass-ceramic. The selective leaching of Mg and P, Ti from the residual glass phase in the glass-ceramic was evidenced. Experiments show that the prepared porous particles have excellent photocatalytic performance toward dye molecules in simulated waste water. Due to its large particle size, the synthesized photocatalyst could be easily recovered after the use. The present study suggests that photocatalysts could be produced in a large-scale and with a low cost via the traditional glass route.