Effective quantum yield and reaction rate model for evaluation of photocatalytic degradation of water contaminants in heterogeneous pilot-scale solar photoreactors

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 215-216; no. 15; pp. 937 - 947
• Main Authors: Mueses, Miguel Angel, Machuca-Martinez, Fiderman, Li Puma, Gianluca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2013
• Subjects: 2,4-D; ametryn; chemical engineering; chlorophenols; collectors; cresols; dichloroacetic acid; diuron; equations; estrogens; Heterogeneous photodegradation; Kinetic model; optical properties; phenol; photolysis; pollutants; Quantum yield; SFM; slurries; TiO2 solar photocatalysis; water pollution; Kinetic model; L–H; Heterogeneous photodegradation; CPC; TiO2-P25; TOC; SFM; Quantum yield; OVRPA; LVRPA; TiO2 solar photocatalysis
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2012.11.076

[Display omitted] ► Generalized model to evaluate the solar photocatalytic oxidation of water pollutants. ► The model is applicable to different reactor geometries. ► Approach is independent of operating conditions, geometry and scale of the reactor. ► The model was validated in three compound parabolic collectors and literature data. ► Quantum yields of photocatalytic degradation of many pollutants were predicted. A generalized model for the evaluation of solar photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants in heterogeneous pilot-scale solar photoreactors using slurry suspensions of TiO2-P25 is presented. The model is developed through the coupling of a modified rate equation derived from a Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic approach and a new model of “effective” quantum yield which is based explicitly on the optical properties of the catalyst and on the incident photon flux, but independent of the composition of the reactants in solution. The model was validated experimentally in three pilot-scale, compound parabolic collectors (CPCs) of different length. The kinetic parameters obtained from this new model are intrinsic to the nature of the reagent system. The results show that this approach is applicable to other photocatalytic degradation systems and is independent of the operating conditions, the geometry and the scale of the reactor. The model could also predict quantum yields of the photocatalytic degradation of 1,4-dioxane, hormone disrupting estrogens (E1, E2, EE2, E3), propanal, dichloroacetic acid, phenol, chlorophenols, methylphenols, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,4-D), diuron and ametryne in single and multicomponent systems.