Modeling of the photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol. Evaluation of toxicity and biodegradability

SATUF, M.L.; JOSE DE PAGGI, S.; PAGGI, J.C.; BRANDI, R.J.; CASSANO, A.E.; ALFANO, O.M.

Cubatão/SP, Brasil

Congreso; Encontro sobre Aplicações Ambientais de Processos Oxidativos Avançados - IV EPOA; 2007

Centro de Capacitação e Pesquisa em Meio Ambiente - CEPEMA/USP

Photocatalysis employing titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a useful method to degrade a wide variety of organic and inorganic pollutants from water and air. However, the application of this advanced oxidation process on an industrial scale requires the development of mathematical models to design and scale-up photocatalytic reactors. In the present work, intrinsic kinetic expressions previously obtained in a small, well-stirred laboratory reactor are employed to predict the performance of a bench scale reactor of different configuration and operating conditions. 4-Chlorophenol, a toxic and bio-refractory aromatic compound, was chosen as the model pollutant. Therefore, the objectives of the work are: (i) Modeling of a bench scale reactor for the 4-CP photocatalytic degradation. (ii) Validation of the kinetic model previously obtained in the laboratory reactor. (iii) Evaluation of the toxicity and biodegradability of the irradiated mixture in the bench photoreactor at different reaction times.