In the present study, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nano-particles were synthesized by sol-gel technique and then used to provide nano-TiO2 loaded cement samples at 1, 5, and 10 wt% for investigation of Malachite green pigment decomposition and Escherichia coli inactivation under UV irradiation. Surveys conducted on the synthesized TiO2 nano-particles showed a 100% anatase phase with a mean particle size of 66.5 nm, surface area of 64.352 m2 g-1, and a porosity volume of 0.1278 cm3 g-1. Cement samples containing this catalyst exhibited stronger photocatalytic properties as compared to the same amount of pure catalyst. Considering both photocatalytic performance and cost of catalyst, 5 wt% titanium dioxide was suggested to be added to cement. By addition of 1 wt% polycarboxylic copolymer as super-plasticizer to the cement paste, the photocatalytic sample activities were reinforced so that a similar performance could be obtained at 1 wt% catalyst as compared to 5 wt% catalyst without super-plasticizer.
