TiO2 nanoparticles
]. Ethylbenzene is used in industry for producing monomer styrene (about 99% of its usage). In addition, 20% of xylene is made of ethylbenzene and its mixture is used as dye solvent, in diesel fuel, and pesticides [1, 4]. Ethylbenzene is used in production of glue, synthetic rubbers, plastic, lacquer, alcohol, and different type of paints and antirust coatings [5]. Ethylbenzene is a natural ingredient of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smock. It is also used at industrial scale production of polystyrene, synthetic rubber, and nylon [6]. According to OSHA , NIOSH , and ACGIH , the Safe concentration of ethylbenzene in air is 100ppm [7]. The main sources of ethylbenzene pollution are mobile sources (cars) so that the pollution is higher near industrial zones, highways, and anywhere the products containing ethylbenzene are used [3, 5]. Photocatalytic oxidation using UV radiation is a novel and promising technology to control VOCs [8]. Among the semi-conductive materials TiO2 is the most effective photocatalyzer and thanks to characteristic like chemical/physical stability, economic production process, neutrality, non-poison, and erosion resistance it is widely used for photocatalytic purposes [9]. It is highly efficient in photocatalytic reactions to control VOCs and converting them into odorless and harmless compounds like CO2 and water vapor [10].
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are commonly used at the band gap energy of 3.3ev of wave length of 365nm. That is, the semi-conductors is exposed to a radiation of light with more energy than its band gap energy so that it can loses electrons. Rapid increase of electron energy and electron movement to conductivity band is the main oxidation factor in disintegration of organic compounds, which in turn accelerates photocatalytic degradation [3]. Semi-conductors like TiO2 are widely used for such purposes; although, its only problem is the low specific level [11]. Therefore, it should immobilized on adsorbents with high specific surface to adsorb organic molecules [12].
Zeolites are used as adsorbents with high specific level and they are potentiality used for different kinds of surface adsorption without any change in their structures [13]. Over the past few years and thanks to its unique characteristics like crystallization, acidity, ionic exchange capacity, and high specific level, zeolite has drawn a great deal of attention [14]. It is an efficient adsorber of some VOCs with high oxidation capability [9].