684 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
elements to demonstrate the successful synthesis of MoS2
and TiO2 within the ternary composites.
As for the BTC sample, it can be seen from Figure 4m
that BiOCl nanosheets also show good dispersity in the ter-
nary heterogeneous system using clinoptilolite as support.
As shown in Figure 4n, the ternary structure can be con-
cluded according to the close contact among BNSs, TiO2
NPs and flake-like
clinoptilolite. In addition, the HRTEM image of BTC
illustrated in Figure 4o shows the apparent interplanar spac-
ings of 0.28 and 0.35 nm, which are consistent with the
crystalline planes of BiOCl (110) and anatase TiO2 [16].
The EDS spectrum in Figure 4p proves the composition of
Bi, Cl, Ti, O, and Si elements within the BTC composites.
Based on the above-mentioned results, it can be supposed
that the clinoptilolite support can not only address the issue
of TiO2 NPs agglomeration, but also regulate the micro-
structure of the nano-semiconductor materials.
BET Surface Area Analysis
N2 adsorption-desorption tests were conducted to analyze
the textural properties of all samples. As shown in Figure 5a,
ALC exhibits a type-II adsorption isotherm curve according
to the IUPAC classification, demonstrating the existence
of mesoporous structure in ALC [17]. From the detailed
data of pore structure characteristics listed in Table 2, the
specific surface area of ALC (181.74 m2/g) increases signifi-
cantly than that of NC (34.66 m2/g) after the acid-leaching
pretreatment, which is owing to the enlarged micropores
and mesopores. Besides, TiO2 NPs and all composites show
type IV isotherms with a distinct H3 hysteresis loop. The
specific surface area of TiO2 NPs (32.84 m2/g) is relatively
small due to the serious agglomeration. Notably, the spe-
cific surface area of all composite photocatalysts including
TC, ATC, MTC and BTC decreases. The possible reason
is the immobilization of nanoscale TiO2, Ag, MoS2 and
BiOCl over the ALC surface results in the blockage of ALC
Figure 4. SEM images of (a) ALC, (b) TiO2, (c) TC, (e) ATC, (i) MTC, and (m) BTC TEM images of (d) TC, (f) ATC, (j) MTC,
and (n) BTC HRTEM images of (g) ATC, (k) MTC, and (o) BTC EDS spectra of (h) ATC, (l) MTC, and (p) BTC
elements to demonstrate the successful synthesis of MoS2
and TiO2 within the ternary composites.
As for the BTC sample, it can be seen from Figure 4m
that BiOCl nanosheets also show good dispersity in the ter-
nary heterogeneous system using clinoptilolite as support.
As shown in Figure 4n, the ternary structure can be con-
cluded according to the close contact among BNSs, TiO2
NPs and flake-like
clinoptilolite. In addition, the HRTEM image of BTC
illustrated in Figure 4o shows the apparent interplanar spac-
ings of 0.28 and 0.35 nm, which are consistent with the
crystalline planes of BiOCl (110) and anatase TiO2 [16].
The EDS spectrum in Figure 4p proves the composition of
Bi, Cl, Ti, O, and Si elements within the BTC composites.
Based on the above-mentioned results, it can be supposed
that the clinoptilolite support can not only address the issue
of TiO2 NPs agglomeration, but also regulate the micro-
structure of the nano-semiconductor materials.
BET Surface Area Analysis
N2 adsorption-desorption tests were conducted to analyze
the textural properties of all samples. As shown in Figure 5a,
ALC exhibits a type-II adsorption isotherm curve according
to the IUPAC classification, demonstrating the existence
of mesoporous structure in ALC [17]. From the detailed
data of pore structure characteristics listed in Table 2, the
specific surface area of ALC (181.74 m2/g) increases signifi-
cantly than that of NC (34.66 m2/g) after the acid-leaching
pretreatment, which is owing to the enlarged micropores
and mesopores. Besides, TiO2 NPs and all composites show
type IV isotherms with a distinct H3 hysteresis loop. The
specific surface area of TiO2 NPs (32.84 m2/g) is relatively
small due to the serious agglomeration. Notably, the spe-
cific surface area of all composite photocatalysts including
TC, ATC, MTC and BTC decreases. The possible reason
is the immobilization of nanoscale TiO2, Ag, MoS2 and
BiOCl over the ALC surface results in the blockage of ALC
Figure 4. SEM images of (a) ALC, (b) TiO2, (c) TC, (e) ATC, (i) MTC, and (m) BTC TEM images of (d) TC, (f) ATC, (j) MTC,
and (n) BTC HRTEM images of (g) ATC, (k) MTC, and (o) BTC EDS spectra of (h) ATC, (l) MTC, and (p) BTC