Visible-light-active bamboo biochar/TiO₂ composites were fabricated by the calcination method using C16H36O₄Ti as the titanium source and bamboo powder with different sizes as the carbon source. The TiO₂ nanoparticles were observed to disperse onto the surface of bamboo biochar fiber. The sizes of the bamboo powder played an important role in the microstructures and the properties of bamboo biochar/TiO₂ composites. The bamboo biochar/TiO₂ composites displayed the photocatalytic activities both under visible light irradiation and UV irradiation. The adsorption isotherms better fitted Freundlich isotherm models and the photodegradation reactions followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Bamboo charcoal/TiO₂ composites exhibited high stability after up to four cycles. This research could pave the way for high-value applications of biomass in the environmental field.
Keywords: TiO2; bamboo charcoal; composites; photocatalytic activity.