XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 683
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Characterization of Composite Photocatalysts
Phase Analysis
The XRD patterns of NC and ALC shown in Figure 3a
illustrate the same peak positions at 2θ =22.5°, 26.9°,
28.1°, and 30.1°, corresponding to the characteristic peaks
of clinoptilolite (JCPDS #39-1383) [10]. Evidently, the
diffraction peak intensity of ALC is enhanced after acid-
leaching treatment. The peaks situated at 25.3°, 37.8°,
48.0°, 53.9°, 55.1°, 62.7°, 68.8°, 70.3°, and 75.0° are well
match to anatase TiO2 (JCPDS #21-1272) [11].
Besides, the TC composites exhibit obvious character-
istic peaks of clinoptilolite and anatase TiO2 (Figure 3b).
For the ATC sample, no clear Ag diffraction peaks are
observed due to the low content of Ag nanoparticles. While
the peak at 25.3° of TiO2 in ATC slightly moves to a higher
angle, which may be caused by the incorporation of Ag ele-
ment into TiO2 unit cell. In the XRD pattern of MTC,
it can be clearly seen the characteristic peaks of hexagonal
phase MoS2 (JCPDS #37-1492) except for the presence
of clinoptilolite and anatase TiO2 [12]. Similarly, the BTC
composites show the apparent diffraction peaks of clino-
ptilolite, anatase TiO2 and BiOCl. The characteristic peaks
located at 25.3° and 26.9° are weak, which originates from
the (101) and (200) crystal planes of TiO2 and clinoptilo-
lite, respectively. The possible reason is the cover of BiOCl
nanosheets (JCPDS #06-0249) over the TC surface [13].
Morphology Analysis
As shown in Figure 4a, ALC has an irregular sheet struc-
ture with a smooth surface, which can offer a relatively
large surface area and thus contribute to the deposition
of TNPs and BNSs on its surface to construct composite
photocatalysts. Figure 4b shows the pristine TiO2 NPs with
spherical shape have poor dispersity because of the high
surface energy. After the introduction of ALC, TiO2 NPs
become welldispersed and uniformly coat on the ALC sur-
face (Figure 4c), which can be confirmed from the TEM
image (Figure 4d). For the ATC composites, Ag NPs are
used to decorate the surface of TC, and the microstructure
and composition are shown in Figure 4e–h. Clearly, ATC
has relatively good dispersion and Ag NPs are uniformly
dispersed on the surface of TC in the TEM image. Besides,
the obvious lattice spacings of 0.23 and 0.35 nm in the
HRTEM image of ATC correspond to the crystal planes
of Ag0 (111) and anatase TiO2 (101), respectively [14].
From the EDS spectrum, Ag, Ti, O, Si, and Al elements
can be detected, confirming the coexistence of Ag, TiO2
and clinoptilolite. Figure 4i–l display the morphology and
element details of the MTC photocatalysts. Interestingly,
MoS2 nanosheets are self-assembled to a hierarchical
flower-like structure over the TC surface with abundant
exposure edges. The unique microstructure of MTC can
provide adequate active sites to adsorb and photodegrade
the xanthate under visible light irradiation. TEM image
shows the close contact of MNSs, TiO2 NPs, and clinopti-
lolite within the ternary heterogeneous structure of MTC.
As shown in HRTEM image, two evident lattice spacings
of 0.35 and 0.63 nm can be ascribed to the crystal plane
(101) of anatase TiO2 and (002) of hexagonal phase MoS2,
respectively [15]. Moreover, the EDS spectrum shows
that the MTC composites consist of Mo, S, Ti, O, and Si
Figure 3. XRD patterns of (a) NC, ALC, TiO
2 ,and (b) composite photocatalysts
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Characterization of Composite Photocatalysts
Phase Analysis
The XRD patterns of NC and ALC shown in Figure 3a
illustrate the same peak positions at 2θ =22.5°, 26.9°,
28.1°, and 30.1°, corresponding to the characteristic peaks
of clinoptilolite (JCPDS #39-1383) [10]. Evidently, the
diffraction peak intensity of ALC is enhanced after acid-
leaching treatment. The peaks situated at 25.3°, 37.8°,
48.0°, 53.9°, 55.1°, 62.7°, 68.8°, 70.3°, and 75.0° are well
match to anatase TiO2 (JCPDS #21-1272) [11].
Besides, the TC composites exhibit obvious character-
istic peaks of clinoptilolite and anatase TiO2 (Figure 3b).
For the ATC sample, no clear Ag diffraction peaks are
observed due to the low content of Ag nanoparticles. While
the peak at 25.3° of TiO2 in ATC slightly moves to a higher
angle, which may be caused by the incorporation of Ag ele-
ment into TiO2 unit cell. In the XRD pattern of MTC,
it can be clearly seen the characteristic peaks of hexagonal
phase MoS2 (JCPDS #37-1492) except for the presence
of clinoptilolite and anatase TiO2 [12]. Similarly, the BTC
composites show the apparent diffraction peaks of clino-
ptilolite, anatase TiO2 and BiOCl. The characteristic peaks
located at 25.3° and 26.9° are weak, which originates from
the (101) and (200) crystal planes of TiO2 and clinoptilo-
lite, respectively. The possible reason is the cover of BiOCl
nanosheets (JCPDS #06-0249) over the TC surface [13].
Morphology Analysis
As shown in Figure 4a, ALC has an irregular sheet struc-
ture with a smooth surface, which can offer a relatively
large surface area and thus contribute to the deposition
of TNPs and BNSs on its surface to construct composite
photocatalysts. Figure 4b shows the pristine TiO2 NPs with
spherical shape have poor dispersity because of the high
surface energy. After the introduction of ALC, TiO2 NPs
become welldispersed and uniformly coat on the ALC sur-
face (Figure 4c), which can be confirmed from the TEM
image (Figure 4d). For the ATC composites, Ag NPs are
used to decorate the surface of TC, and the microstructure
and composition are shown in Figure 4e–h. Clearly, ATC
has relatively good dispersion and Ag NPs are uniformly
dispersed on the surface of TC in the TEM image. Besides,
the obvious lattice spacings of 0.23 and 0.35 nm in the
HRTEM image of ATC correspond to the crystal planes
of Ag0 (111) and anatase TiO2 (101), respectively [14].
From the EDS spectrum, Ag, Ti, O, Si, and Al elements
can be detected, confirming the coexistence of Ag, TiO2
and clinoptilolite. Figure 4i–l display the morphology and
element details of the MTC photocatalysts. Interestingly,
MoS2 nanosheets are self-assembled to a hierarchical
flower-like structure over the TC surface with abundant
exposure edges. The unique microstructure of MTC can
provide adequate active sites to adsorb and photodegrade
the xanthate under visible light irradiation. TEM image
shows the close contact of MNSs, TiO2 NPs, and clinopti-
lolite within the ternary heterogeneous structure of MTC.
As shown in HRTEM image, two evident lattice spacings
of 0.35 and 0.63 nm can be ascribed to the crystal plane
(101) of anatase TiO2 and (002) of hexagonal phase MoS2,
respectively [15]. Moreover, the EDS spectrum shows
that the MTC composites consist of Mo, S, Ti, O, and Si
Figure 3. XRD patterns of (a) NC, ALC, TiO
2 ,and (b) composite photocatalysts