Photocatalysis: a viable alternative for the elimination of organic compounds

Abstract

The basic idea of this project is to present photocatalysis as a simple, economic, effective and innovative technology, for the treatment of phenolic waters found in the effluents from several industrial processes, by determining the optimum conditions of operation and by identifying the parameters that govern the process. The attractiveness of this technology is based on its profitability, easy of implementation and use. The required capital investment is minimal in comparison with other technologies. The UV radiation from the sun or artificial sources (lamps), is used to activate the catalyst (TiO2) to destroy the organic pollutants present in liquids effluent. The process was carried out continuously with using pH, catalyst (TiO2) concentration and recirculation time as variables.