Photocatalytic reactor for organic compound removal using photocatalytic mechanism

Abstract

In this work, a photocatalytic reactor with a working volume of 13 l was fabricated of soda-lime silica glass. Commercial titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles were used as the photocatalyst and trails were conducted on the photodecomposition of methylene blue (MB) solutions (10⁻⁵ M). The activation of the photocatalysts was carried out using 5 UV lamps (378 nm, 36 W), and 13 g of TiO₂ was added each week to the reactor. The MB solution was fed at a flow rate of 0.87 l h⁻¹, while the effluent was removed after 5 h of hydraulic retention time. The performance of the reactor was studied over a period of 45 days. The results showed a sharp decline in the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration and pH of the solution with the increased addition of TiO₂ to the reactor owing to the occurrence of the photocatalytic process. The reactor was found to be highly effective in decomposing MB solution. The performance was observed to slightly decrease over the long operating period owing to the TiO₂ accumulation on the reactor wall, and its non-participation in the reactions.