Pitch/activated carbon/TiO2 composites photocatalysts were prepared by a CCl4 solvent mixing method with different mixing ratios. Since two types of carbon in the particles had porous structures, the pitch/activated carbon/TiO2 composite series showed a good adsurptivity and photo-degradation activity. The result of the textural surface properties demonstrates that there is a slight increase in the BET surface area of composite samples with an increase in the amount of activated carbon. The surface properties seen by SEM present a characterization of the porous texture on the pitch/activated carbon/TiO2 composites and homogenous compositions in the particles for all the materials used. From XRD data, a weak and broad carbon peak of graphene remained and rutile peaks kept some of the anatase structure were observed in the X-ray diffraction patterns for the pitch/activated carbon/TiO2 composites. The EDX spectra for the elemental identification showed the presence of C, O and S with strong Ti peaks. Most of these samples are richer in carbon and Ti metal than any other elements. From the photocatalytic results, the excellent activity of the pitch/activated carbon/TiO2 composites of MB (methylene blue) and UV irradiation time could be attributed to both the effects between the photocatalysis of the supported TiO2 and adsorptivity of the two kinds of carbons.

Keywords: activated carbon; BET surface area; SEM; XRD; EDX; photocatalytic activity