STUDY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ETHYLENE GAS REMOVAL USING TiO2 PHOTOCATALYST MATERIAL

Abstract

In this study, nano-structured TiO2 material was synthesized by using the sol-gel method, annealed in N2 gas at 500°C for 3 hours. Its morphology and structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and EDS spectrum analysis indicated uniformity without foreign components (Ti content: 59.89%, oxygen content: 40.7%), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the anatase phase. UV light absorption and photoluminescence (PL) analysis of electron-hole pair separation demonstrated improved optical properties and enhanced light absorption of the TiO2 photocatalyst in the visible light region. In addition, TiO2 was able to remove 57.6% of ethylene gas under conditions of 0.5 g dosage, 50% relative humidity, and a gas flow rate of 10 mL/min over 60 minutes. This results provide a potential method for developing photocatalysts to preserve food and extend the shelf life of fruits.