MICROSTRUCTURE OF COPPER MODIFIED ATTAPULGITE/NANOTITANIA COMPOSITE POWDERS

A novel nanocomposite powder of copper-modified attapulgite/nanotitania particles was prepared by hydrolysis of acid-based concurrent flow neutralization using titanium tetrachloride as precursor. The microstructure of the nanocomposite was investigated by a high resolution transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The experiment results re- veal that the titania particles are confined to the surface of attapulgite one-dimensional fibrous nano-attapulgite and their sizes are in the range of 3—6 nm. Both attapulgite and titanium dioxide grains were detached and no case of agglomeration was observed. Ana- tase is the main phase of the titania in the composite powder, which is in agreement with the characteristic diffraction peaks of anatase presented in the JCPDS card. The location of characteristic diffraction peaks of attapulgite had not changed significantly and copper existed on the surfaces of attapulgite in several valences. The anti-bacterial rate of the composite powder to Escherichia coli (8099) and Staphylococus aureus (ATCC6538)reached 99.52% and 99.15% during 24 h, respectively.