Photocatalytic degradation of metoprolol in water suspension of TiO2 nanopowders prepared using sol–gel route

Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) powders have been synthesized by sol–gel method using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl 4 ) or tetrabutyl titanate (Ti(OC 4 H 9 ) 4 as precursors, different alcohols and calcination temperatures in the range from 400 to 650 °C. The photocatalytic activity of as-prepared powders has been tested for the degradation of metoprolol tartrate salt, a selective β-blocker used to treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases, and compared to photocatalytic activity obtained from Degussa P25. Nanosized TiO 2 powders prepared from TiCl 4 and amyl-alcohol, calcined at 550 °C, displayed an activity comparable to Degussa P25, whereas the sample from the same series, calcined at 650 °C, showed higher photocatalytic activity in the whole range of the catalyst loading. Structural, morphological and surface properties of synthesized TiO 2 nanopowders have been investigated by XRD, SEM, EDS and BET measurements, as well as FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, in order to find out the material properties which enable rapid an efficient decomposition of metoprolol under UV radiation.