Low-toxic gelcasting of bulk porous silica with bi-modal pore structure and its application in TiO₂ photocatalysts

Bulk porous silica with bi-modal pore structure was successfully prepared by low-toxic aqueous gelcasting using egg white and glutinous rice flour as foamers and industrial waste as silica raw material. Anatase TiO₂ hydrosol with high photocatalytic activity was prepared by a water peptization method. The bulk porous silica-supported TiO₂ catalysts as prepared by surface adsorption method showed excellent photocatalytic properties, with advantages of both porous silica supporter and TiO₂ hydrosol, and did not require direct the use of nano TiO₂ crystallites and can be readily and practically used in the degradation of pollutants, environmental remediation, and other applications.