Enhanced photodegradation of di(2-ethyl)hexyl phthalate by Molecularly Imprinted titanium dioxide

To enhance the photocatalytic degradation efficiency and selectivity of di(2-ethyl)hexyl phthalate (DEHP), molecularly imprinted TiO2 (MIP-TiO2 ) was synthesized with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate as template molecule. The as-prepared MIP-TiO2 was characterized by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FI-IR), UV-Visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The selective adsorption and photocatalytic activity of MIP-TiO2 for DEHP were studied. The results show that DEHP molecularly imprinted polymer was coated on the surface of TiO2 . The light-response of MIP-TiO2 was broadened. The photo-generated electron/hole recombination on the surface of TiO2 decreased. The selective recognition to DEHP was improved. Compared with TiO2 , MIP-TiO2 exhibited higher photocatalytic activity and selectivity to DEHP. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of DEHP (5mg/L) by MIP-TiO2 was 89%. The photocatalytic degradation rate of DEHP by MIP-TiO2 is 1.5 times that by TiO2 . MIP-TiO2 could be reused.