Figure 1. SEM images of photocatalysts synthesized using different methods:

photodeposition (PD) and chemical reduction (CR). (A) Au-TiO2(PD-HI)15min; (B) Au-

TiO2(PD-HI)120min; (C) Au-TiO2(CR); (D) Pt-TiO2(PD-HI)15min and (E) Pt-TiO2(PD-

HI)120min.

Au

Au

Au

(A) (B)

(D)

(E)

Pt

Pt

Pt

Pt

(C)

Au

Figure 2. TEM images of metallized S-TiO2. (A) and (B) Au-TiO2 catalysts prepared by

PD method using 140 W/m2 of light intensity and different deposition time 15 and 120 min,

respectively. (C) and (D) Pt-TiO2 samples prepared by photodeposition method and

different deposition time 15 and 120 min, respectively.

(C) (D)

-

Figure 3. XRD patterns for TiO2 and M-TiO2 photocatalysts (M=Au or Pt) prepared by

chemical reduction (CR) and photochemical deposition (PD) using 120 min of deposition

time.

20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Pt-TiO2 (PD)

Au-TiO2 (PD)

Au-TiO2 (CR)

Inte

nsi

ty (

a.u)

2

S-TiO2

Figure 4. UV-Vis DRS spectra for the investigated photocatalysts.

200 300 400 500 600 700 800

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

Abso

rban

ce (

a.u)

Wavelenght (nm)

S-TiO2

Au-TiO2(PD -HI) 15min

Au-TiO2(PD-HI) 120min

Pt-TiO2(PD-HI) 15min

Pt-TiO2(PD-HI) 120min

Au-TiO2(CR)

Figure 5. Discoloration of the Patent blue V as a function of run time over the

photocatalysts analyzed; Patent blue V initial concentration: 7 mg/L; catalyst dosage: 3 g/L.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

C/C

o

Run time [min]

Au-TiO2 (CR)

S-TiO2

Au-TiO2 (PD-LI) 15 min

Au-TiO2 (PD-HI) 120min

Au-TiO2 (PD-LI) 120 min

Au-TiO2 (PD-HI)15 min

UV ON

Figure 6. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal as a function of run time over the catalysts

analyzed. Patent Blue V initial concentration: 7 mg/L; catalyst dosage: 3 g/L.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

TOC

/TO

Co

Run time [min]

S-TiO2

Au-TiO2 (CR)

Au-TiO2 (PD-LI) 15 min

Au-TiO2 (PD-LI) 120min

Au-TiO2 (PD-HI) 120min

Au-TiO2 (PD-HI) 15 min

UV ON

Figure 7. Patent blue V discoloration over Au-TiO2(PD-HI)15min catayst, varying the

initial concentration of the dye; catalyst dosage: 3 g/L.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

C/C

o

Run time (min)

7 mg/L

12 mg/L

3 mg/L

UV ON

Figure 8. Evaluation of Patent blue V adsorption constant on Au-TiO2(PD-HI)15min

catalyst; catalyst dosage: 3 g/L.

y = 751,94x + 2314,4

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

0 5 10 15 20 25

C0*/

C*

C0*

Figure 9. Experimental and predicted data as a function of Patent blue V initial

concentration on Au-TiO2(PD-HI)15min; catalyst dosage: 3 g/L.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

0 50 100 150 200

C/C

0*

Irradiation time [min]

Experimental

Model

3 mg/L

12 mg/L

7 mg/L

Figure 10. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal over the Au-TiO2(PD-HI)15min catayst,

varying the initial concentration of the dye; catalyst dosage: 3 g/L.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

TOC

/TO

Co

Run time (min)

7 mg/L

12 mg/L

3 mg/L

UV ON

Figure 11. Patent blue V discoloration over the Au-TiO2(PD-HI)15min catayst, varying the

dosage of the photocatalyst (g/L); Patent blue V initial concentration: 7 mg/L.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

C/C

o

Run time (min)

12g/L

9g/L

6g/L

3g/L

UV ON

Figure 12. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal over the Au-TiO2(PD-HI)15min catayst,

varying the dosage of the photocatalyst (g/L); Patent Blue V initial concentration: 7 mg/L.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

TOC

/TO

Co

Run time (min)

6 g/L

3 g/L

9 g/L

12 g/L

UV ON

Figure 13. Patent blue V discoloration over the Pt-TiO2 photocatalyst prepared with 140

W/m2 of light intensity and different deposition time (15 and 120 min); Patent blue V initial

concentration: 7 mg/L; catalyst dosage: 3 g/L.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

C/C

o

Run time (min)

Pt-TiO2 (PD-HI)15 min

Pt-TiO2 (PD-HI)120 min

S-TiO2

UV ON

Figure 14. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal over the Pt-TiO2 photocatalyst prepared

with 140 W/m2 of light intensity and different deposition time (15 and 120 min); Patent

Blue V initial concentration: 7 mg/L; catalyst dosage: 3 g/L.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

TOC

/TO

Co

Run time (min)

Pt-TiO2 (PD-HI)120 min

Pt-TiO2 (PD-HI)15min

S-TiO2

UV ON

Figure 15. Comparison of the Patent blue V discoloration and mineralization over the S-

TiO2 and the most effective M-TiO2 photocatalysts; Patent blue V initial concentration: 7

mg/L; catalyst dosage: 3 g/L.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

S-TiO2 Au-TiO2 (PD-HI) 15 min Pt-TiO2 (PD-HI) 120 min

Dis

colo

rati

on

or

min

era

lizat

ion

(%

)

discoloration

mineralization

Figure 16. Evaluation of Patent blue V discoloration and mineralization after 60 minutes of

irradiation on Au-TiO2(PD-HI)15min catalyst for different cycles; Patent blue V initial

concentration: 4.7 mg/L; catalyst dosage: 3 g/L.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

1 2 3 4

% d

isco

lora

tio

n a

nd

min

era

lizat

ion

Cycle