Patent ID: 8741156

Claim:
A hybrid photocatalyst comprising a layered aluminosilicate, at least one organic chromophore introduced into aluminosilicate galleries of said photocatalyst, wherein said chromophore is able to absorb visible and/or ultraviolet light and sensitize photochemical reactions, and wherein the organic chromophore is a compound containing at least one chromophoric group selected from the group consisting of porphyrin, rose bengal, anthracene, pyrene, perylene, tetracene, rubrene, naphthalene, phthalocyanines, coumarins, and methylene blue, wherein said chromophore does not contain cations of heavy metals, wherein the photocatalyst is useful for degradation of water pollutants, wherein the layered aluminosilicate is an organically modified layered aluminosilicate, wherein the organic chromophore is a polymer bearing at least one chromophoric group, and wherein the organic chromophore is covalently attached to the organic cations present between the aluminosilicate layers.