Abstract: Bamboo charcoal-ZnO composite was prepared via dipping method by using sodium silicate as binder. The bamboo charcoal-ZnO composite was characterized by FT-IR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the removal effects of the composite for photocatalytic degradation of phenol in aqueous solution were investigated. The experimental results showed that in the preparing process of composite the optimum mass ratio of bamboo charcoal-ZnO-Na₂SiO₃·9H₂O was 5:2:1. It was favorable to the removal of phenol in acidic aqueous solution and when H₂O₂ was added. Under optimum condition of phenol concentration 50mg/L, composite mass concentration 2g/L and H₂O₂ concentration 1.95mmol/L, reaction time 4h under UV and sunlight irradiations respectively, the phenol removal rates were 92.3% and 76.4%, respectively. The phenol removal rate of the composite after reused for three times could still reach more than 80%.

Key words: bamboo charcoal-ZnO composite, photocatalytic degradation, phenol