Preparation and photocatalytic degradability of TiO2/polyacrylamide composite

Based on the unique absorbent characters and three-dimensional network structure of polyacrylamide (PAM) superabsorbent polymer, a photocatalytic degradable TiO₂/PAM composite was synthesized by an aqueous solution polymerization method with N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide as crosslinker, potassium peroxydisulfate as initiator, acrylamide as monomer, and TiO₂ (P-25) as functional filler. The photocatalytic degradability of the composite was evaluated using methyl orange as photodegradation target, and the recovery and reproducibility of the composite was investigated. It was found that TiO₂/PAM composite had a good photocatalytic degradability, the composite also possessed a good reproducibility of photocatalytic degradability, which is possible to be used in practical process.