Preparation, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Sodium Humate/Nano-TiO2 Coating on Glass Spheres for Flue Gas Denitrification

A new photocatalyst of sodium humate (HA–Na)/Nano-TiO 2 coating on the glass spheres for flue gas denitrification (DeNO x ) was prepared using the impregnation method. The HA–Na/TiO 2 is characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The photocatalytic activity of HA–Na/TiO 2 on removing NO x was investigated in a self-designed photocatalytic reactor. The synergistic mechanism of HA–Na and TiO 2 on DeNO x is also proposed and demonstrated. The experimental results indicate that specific surface area and average pore size of HA–Na are improved owing to the mixed TiO 2 nanoparticles. The crystal structure of TiO 2 has little change after mixing with HA–Na. Due to high photocatalytic performance of TiO 2 , NO was oxidized to NO 2 and HNO 3 eventually. On the other hand, HA–Na support can absorb and react with HNO 3 , which accelerates 10% of the catalytic reaction of TiO 2 and the utilization of light source. The chemical and physiological activity of oxidized HA–Na are improved than the original humate. The HA–Na/TiO 2 photocatalysts show great property on eliminating NO x because of the promoting effect between HA–Na and TiO 2 , and the NO removal efficiency can reach to 80% at the optimum condition.