Efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of an emerging pollutant in a fixed-bed reactor

ALFANO, O. M.; SATUF, M. L.; MANASSERO, A.

Belo Horizonte

Encuentro; VIII Encuentro sobre Aplicaciones Ambientales de Procesos Avanzados de Oxidación; 2015

Escola de Engenharia, UFMG

A study of the photocatalytic degradation of the pharmaceutical clofibric acid is presented. Experiments were carried out under UV radiation in a reactor filled with glass rings coated with TiO2 P25 (Evonik). Experiments were carried out employing glass rings with 1, 3 and 5 catalyst coatings, and different levels of irradiation (100%, 62%, and 30%). The performance of the reactor was objectively assessed by the quantum efficiency parameter. The modeling of the radiation field in the reactor was carried out by Monte Carlo simulation. The highest efficiency of CA degradation was obtained in the reactor containing rings with 3 catalyst coatings, under 62 % irradiation level.