Enhancing xylene degradation by core-shell TS-1@TiO in a bubble reactor with ultraviolet/HO.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere pose a critical global challenge due to their detrimental health effects. The ultraviolet (UV)/Fenton-like system has shown promise for VOC degradation. However, maintaining long-term catalytic efficiency by minimizing intermediate byproduct accumulation remains key challenges. In this study, a novel core-shell catalyst is developed which composed of anatase-phase titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles deposited on titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) via a Stöber method in an ethanol/ammonia mixture. The TS-1@TiO structure promotes efficient spatial separation of photogenerated electrons and holes under UV irradiation, enhancing the activation of HO to yield highly reactive free radicals (OH, OOH and O) for effective xylene degradation. In a UV/HO bubble reactor, the TS-1@TiO catalyst demonstrates stable xylene degradation efficiency (75 % over 200 min), surpassing the performance of standalone TS-1 (53.2 %) and TiO (57.1 %). This design addresses critical challenges in sustained radical generation and intermediate suppression, offering a robust strategy to improve the longevity and efficiency of UV/HO systems for environmental remediation.