Photocatalyst with modified alkyl silicate ester support and process for production thereof

Abstract

A photocatalyst compound comprising a silica-based support material having bound thereto a photocatalyst selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, WO.sub.3 and mixtures thereof, the photocatalyst compound having been derivatized by reaction with an alcohol compound. The process for producing the photocatalyst compound comprises the steps of: (i) contacting a silica-based support material having bound thereto a photocatalyst selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, WO.sub.3 and mixtures thereof with an alcohol compound to form a slurry; (ii) maintaining the temperature of the slurry above the boiling point of the slurry to produce a substance having a modified surface consisting essentially of an alkyl silicate ester and esterified photocatalyst; and (iii) subjecting the substance to selective oxidation to oxidize the esterfied photocatalyst thereby producing a photocatalyst compound having a modified surface consisting essentially of an alkyl silicate ester and a photocatalyst substantially free of ester groups. The photocatalyst compound is useful, inter alia, in the treatment of a fluid containing an organic pollutant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.