Belgorod State Technological University named after V. G. Shukhov (Belgorod, Russia)

Ogurtsova Yu. N., Senior Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Associate Professor, ogurtsova.y@yandex.ru
Strokova V. V., Director of the Innovative Scientific, Educational and Experimental-Industrial Center «Nanostructured Composite Materials», Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor
Nerovnaya S. V., Postgraduate Student
Gubareva E. N., Senior Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

This article examines Russia’s domestic and foreign experience in the preparation and use of natural, technogenic, and synthesized mineral raw materials based on silica, aluminosilicates, and carbonates as components in photocatalytic composite materials (PCMs). The prospects are shown for using overburden and host rocks, crushing screenings, processing waste, metallurgical slag, and fly ash as effective carriers of a photocatalytic agent for subsequent use in the manufacture of building materials. The paper discusses acid-base surface properties and their dependence on the composition of the raw materials used, relevant preparation methods and conditions and types of mechanical impacts. Methods for activating raw materials have been studied in order to control the acid-base surface properties with the aim of increasing acidity for the effective synthesis of PCMs and ensuring high photocatalytic activity of the final products. Physical-mechanical, chemical, and physical-chemical (thermal, including hydrothermal) raw material preparation methods were used. These were applied in combination and/or in stages: raw materials after physical and mechanical exposure (crushing) were subjected to chemical activation (exposure to alkalis, acids, solvents), followed by heat treatment (roasting to remove water and impurities) or hydrothermal treatment (to obtain a special porous structure). These treatments increase the surface area of the particles and the number of defects both on the surface and within the crystalline structure, trigger mineral transformation (amorphization, formation of new phases, polymorphic and polytypic modifications), improve concentration of active centers and surface acidity, which promotes more efficient precipitation and photocatalyst precursor adhesion during the synthesis of a photocatalytic composite material and higher photocatalytic activity of the final product.
This work was carried out within the framework of state assignment No. FZWN-2023-0006 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

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