Abstract
Carbonized moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) was coated with TiO <sub>2</sub> nanoparticles to enhance its removal efficiency of harmful gases. Carbonized bamboo-TiO <sub>2</sub> composite (CBC) was prepared by heating mixtures of carbonized bamboo powder (CB) and TiO <sub>2</sub> nanoparticles, denoted as CBM, under nitrogen condition. TiO <sub>2</sub> nanoparticle and carbonized bamboo powder were mixed with the mass ratios of 1/1 and 2/1, respectively. At the same mass ratio of TiO <sub>2</sub> to CB, the benzene and toluene removal efficiencies follow the trend: CBC > CBM > CB, which is consistent with the amount of TiO <sub>2</sub> validated by elemental analysis. Sorption mechanism of benzene and toluene by CB, CBM and CBC might belong to hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction, observed by depletion of untreated bamboo (UB) carbohydrates during carbonization. Sorption kinetics was further analyzed, and optimal correlation was found by fitting with the Elovich kinetic equation. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.