The TiO₂/cellulose composites were successfully fabricated by in situ synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles in the regenerated bamboo cellulose fibers using the ammonium fluoride titanate and boric acid mixture. The catalytic degradation performance of composites on the methyl orange solution was studied by ultraviolet light source. The structure and properties of the samples were characterized by using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The results show that a strong interaction between the hydroxyl groups of cellulose and TiO₂ nanoparticles through hydrogen bond generated immobilization of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the cellulose surface. The absorption peaks at 528 cm^-1 were assigned to the O-Ti-O stretching, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation ratio of methyl orange solution was comparable to the pure TiO₂ power, up to 95.5% under UV light for 60 min. Moreover, it could degrade of methyl orange 5 times over and over again, leading to a simple, low-cost and environment friendly approach for application in the fields of sewage treatment.

cellulose  /  TiO₂  /  photocatalysis  /  methyl orange