Construction of superhydrophilic/superhydrophobic composite photocatalysts for efficient gas–liquid-solid photocatalytic degradation of methyl mercaptan

Photocatalytic oxidation technology holds considerable promise for effectively removing odor-causing compounds, yet conventional gas–solid photocatalytic systems suffer from critical limitations, including incomplete mineralization and persistent accumulation of toxic intermediates. To address this, a gas–liquid-solid photocatalytic oxidation system was developed utilizing a superhydrophilic/superhydrophobic photocatalyst. By synthesizing superhydrophobic Cu-doped UiO-66 and combining with TiO 2 , the resulting OCUN/T photocatalysts was thoroughly chatacterized and tested under various conditions. The optimized system achieved sustained methyl mercaptan removal rates exceeding 99 % over 10 h under low flow rates. Performance significantly improved under solar irradiation irradiance > 100 W/m 2 . This work elucidates the synergistic mechanism of interfacial mass transfer and photocatalytic degradation in the gas–liquid-solid system, providing a method for the purification of odor-causing compounds that minimizes secondary pollution.