Efficient preparation of polymer-based hollow spheres for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Titanium dioxide hollow spheres were synthesized by utilizing polystyrene‐ co ‐methacrylic acid latex particles coated with titanium isopropoxide. Hollow spheres prepared with different ruthenium salt concentrations showed considerable levels of organic pollutant degradation upon UV irradiation. In the present study, methylene blue (MB) was selected as a model for these pollutants. Thus its degradation indicated the activity of the hollow spheres as photocatalysts for decomposing the pollutants. The efficiencies of these photocatalysts were determined in terms of chemical oxygen demand removal. During these experiments, several conditions were monitored such as the effects of pH, ruthenium salt concentration, and initial MB load concentration. The prepared particles were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers