In this work, we have successfully synthesized a set of titania photocatalytic nanocomposites by the
incorporation of different TiO2 content on wheat bran residues. The obtained catalysts were characterized
by different techniques including UVeVis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) while their photocatalytic activity was
investigated in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol under UV light irradiation. Benzaldehyde yields were ca.
20%, with conversion in the systems of ca. 33% of benzyl alcohol by using 10%Ti-Bran catalyst, as
compared to 33% yield to the target product (quantitative conversion of benzyl alcohol) using commercial
pure TiO2 (P-25). The photocatalytic activity results indicate that designed waste-derived
nanomaterials with low TiO2 content can efficiently photocatalyze the conversion of benzyl alcohol
with relative high selectivity towards benzaldehyde
