Shoubin Xu

Thermal Decomposition Behavior of Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) with Different Hydroxyl Content

The thermal decomposition behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with two different hydroxyl contents, 88 and 99%, was investigated. UV-Vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and TGA-FTIR were used to detect the volatile and nonvolatile products of the thermal decomposition of PVA. The results suggest that the PVA, after thermal treatment, can form chromophoric polyene structure, as well as carbonyl groups. The PVA with 88% hydroxyl content underwent slower decomposition below 280°C and generated water and carboxyl acid as the dominant volatile products, however, as for the PVA with 99% hydroxyl content, the dominant volatile products were water, unsaturated aldehydes, and other unsaturated compounds.

TiO2/T-PVA Composites Immobilized on Cordierite: Structure and Photocatalytic Activity for Degrading RhB Under Visible Light

AbstractA novel immobilized visible light-active photocatalyst (TiO2/polyvinyl alcohol after thermal treatment (T-PVA)/cordierite honeycomb (CHC)) was successfully prepared by a simple and convenient method combining sol–gel and thermal treatment using tetrabutyl titanate (TBOT) as the titanium source, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the precursor of conjugated polymer, and CHC as the support. The synthesized photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that PVA was dehydrated to produce conjugated unsaturated T-PVA. The T-PVA not only extended the response spectrum of TiO2 to visible light region, but also strengthened the adhesion of TiO2 to CHC. The TiO2/T-PVA/CHC showed both outstanding adsorption properties and excellent photocatalytic performance under visible light on the decolorization of Rhodamine B. Over eight cycles, the photocatalyst continued to maintain perfect photocatalytic activity, showing good stability. FigureSchematic illustration of TiO2/T-PVA/CHC composite photocatalyst

Study of the Thermal Decomposition Behavior of Poly(vinyl alcohol) with NaHSO4

The thermal decomposition behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with NaHSO4 at 280∼290°C as well as the optical characteristics and the thermal stability of the resulting thermally decomposed PVA were investigated by means of UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results suggest that (1) the elimination reactions of side groups in PVA with NaHSO4 can occur under our conditions resulting in formation of carbon–carbon double and triple bonds; (2) most of the carbon–carbon double bonds were conjugated; (3) the PVA thermally treated with NaHSO4 could absorb light in the region of 190∼600 nm; (4) the thermal stability of the resulting PVA was better than that of PVA without thermal treatment; and (5) compared with the thermal reaction of PVA without NaHSO4, the addition of NaHSO4 can promote the thermal elimination of side groups of PVA.