Hi everyone,
I am synthesizing a photocatalyst. In one last stage of photocatalyst, I needed to wash my catalyst three times with ethanol and distilled water. In that case, how can I be sure my washing was done correctly?
In most of the literature, they said to wash the catalyst. I rarely found anyone who explained the washing process.
Thank you in advance. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
1. Visual inspection: After each washing step, visually inspect the catalyst to check for any visible signs of contamination or residue. Look for any discoloration, floating particles, or cloudiness in the liquid. If you notice any abnormalities, it may indicate incomplete washing.
2. pH testing: Test the pH of the washing solutions (ethanol and distilled water) before and after washing. If there is a significant change in pH, it could suggest the presence of acidic or alkaline impurities that might not have been completely removed. Ideally, the pH should stabilize around a neutral value (pH 7) after proper washing.
3. Residual solvent detection: Ensure that the catalyst is thoroughly dried after washing. Any residual ethanol can affect the photocatalyst's properties and measurements. You can use techniques such as gas chromatography or infrared spectroscopy to check for the presence of residual solvents. If using spectroscopy, examine the spectrum of the dried catalyst and compare it to that of pure catalyst and pure solvent to identify any overlapping peaks.
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