Quantum efficiencies of the photocatalytic decomposition of 4-CP

SATUF, M. L.; BRANDI, R. J.; CASSANO, A. E.; ALFANO, O. M.

Oxidation Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment

Verlag

Lugar: Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Alemania; Año: 2006; p. 480 - 485

This study presents the evaluation of the quantum efficiency and the apparent quantum efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) in a TiO2 slurry photoreactor. To calculate these efficiencies, the radiation absorbed by the heterogeneous reacting system needs to be determined. A one-dimensional, one-directional radiation field model is proposed to compute the photon absorption inside the slurry photocatalytic reactor. The efficiencies are analyzed considering the influence of three operating variables: initial pH, catalyst loading, and irradiation intensity. Important dependencies on these variables were found. The best quantum efficiencies were obtained in acidic conditions, at the highest explored catalyst concentration and at the lowest irradiation level.