• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.413-421
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• 2005

This study focused on the decomposition of toluene in a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system. Hexagonally packed meso-structured Mn-titanosilicates (Mn-Ti-MCM-41), as the photocatalysts, have been prepared by the hydrothermal method. The physical properties of the photocatalysts were characterized using XRD, XPS, TEM, BET/ICP, and $NH_3$/Toluene-TPD. Experiments were carried out at the applied voltage of 9.0 kV and at room temperature of $20^{\circ}C$. In the plasma only system, the activity of the toluene decomposition was higher than that in the photocatalytic system. However, the amount of by-products, such as phenol, $C_2{\sim}C_4$ alkene, was also increased in the plasma only system. However, the by-products decreased remarkably in a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system. When Mn5mol%-Ti-MCM-41 was used as a photocatalyst in a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system, the $CO_2$ selectivity in products was increased dramatically compared to other catalysts. It was confirmed that a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system was better for toluene decomposition compared to photocatalytic and plasma only systems.