Patent ID: 8158005

Claim:
A method of removing an organic contaminant from an aqueous medium comprising contacting the aqueous medium with an oxidizing material comprising a plurality of photocatalytic microcomposite particles, where the microcomposite particles further comprise a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel polymerized into a particle; at least one interpenetrating linear chain of poly(acrylic acid) associated with the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel; a plurality of photocatalytic inorganic oxide particles attached to the surface and interior of the polymerized gel particle; wherein the photocatalytic inorganic oxide particles are immobilized on the surface and in the core of the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel particle by the at least one interpenetrating linear chain of poly(acrylic acid) irradiating the photocatalytic microcomposite particles with a wavelength sufficient to activate the inorganic oxide particles; allowing the photocatalytic microcomposite particles to settle; recapturing any released titania, further comprising adding at least one recycle particle to the aqueous medium, wherein the recycle particle consists essentially of a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel polymerized into a particle; at least one interpenetrating linear chain of poly(acrylic acid) associated with the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel; and allowing the released titania to contact the recycle particle.