Photocatalytic Composition for Water Purification

A composition comprising:

• one or more photocatalysts selected from TiO2, ZnO, WO3, Cu2O, SnO2, SiO2, RuO2, SrTiO3, Fe2O3, NiO, and SiC;
• one or more glass bubbles;
• and
• a cementing binder.

A container having a horizontal bottom surface and one or more vertical surfaces connected perpendicularly thereto to form an opening, and a solid composition inserted into the opening;

• wherein the solid composition comprises one or more photocatalysts selected from TiO2, ZnO, WO3, Cu2O, SnO2, SiO2, RuO2, SrTiO3, Fe2O3, NiO, and SiC;
• one or more glass bubbles;
• and
• a cementing binder.

A water purification system, comprising

• one or more tubes positioned in front of a light source and optionally interconnected in a series with elbow shaped tube connectors;
• and
• one or more parabolic trough reflectors positioned behind the one or more tubes such that the light is focused on the tubes;
• wherein
• the tubes contain one or more solid compositions;
• each solid composition comprises one or more photocatalysts selected from TiO2, ZnO, WO3, Cu2O, SnO2, SiO2, RuO2, SrTiO3, Fe2O3, NiO, and SiC;
• one or more glass bubbles;
• and
• a cementing binder;
• the first tube has an inlet for the entry of water;
• and
• the last tube has an outlet for the exit of water, where the outlet optionally has a valve to control water flow.

A method of preparing a composition, comprising

• a) combining one or more photocatalysts selected from TiO2, ZnO, WO3, Cu2O, SnO2, SiO2, RuO2, SrTiO3, Fe2O3, NiO, and SiC;
• b) adding glass bubbles and mixing to obtain a first mixture;
• c) adding a cementing binder and water, then mixing to obtain a second mixture;
• d) optionally adding one or more metals and non-metals selected from N, C, S, P, B, F, I, Cu, Ag, Pt, Pd, Mn, Wo, Ni, Sn, Fe, and V;
• and
• e) obtaining the composition.