Abstract

The photodegradation of phenol under visible light by using TiO2 and activated carbon prepared by physical activation was performed. Activated carbon was prepared from Tabebuia Pentaphyla wood by physical activation under CO2 flow at 800ºC. UV-Vis lamp with a high proportion of visible light was used. Kinetic results of phenol photodegradation indicated a beneficial effect between TiO2 and AC. An increase of apparent first-order rate constant (kapp) by a factor of 1.74 in presence of TiO2-AC was obtained in comparison than TiO2 alone. This cooperative effect between both solids was ascribed to the high surface area and basic surface pH of this type of AC.