Modelling of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Photoreactors: Three Applications to Advanced Oxidation Processes

ALFANO, O.M.

Palermo, Italia

Simposio; 5th European Meeting on Solar Chemistry and Photocatalysis: Environmental Applications-SPEA 5; 2008

A general methodology for the analysis and design of photorreactors, base don the fundamentals of chemical reaction engineering and radiative transfer is presented. Three different applications in the field of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) are considered: degradation of perchloroethylene from air streams in a photocatalytic reactor, decomposition of an organic pollutant in aqueous solution using a homogeneous photo Fenton solar reactor, and degradation of 4-chlorophenol in water using a heterogeneous photocatalytic slurry reactor. By means of these illustrative examples, the need of a systematic and rigorous approach to the analysis and design of photoreactors is emphasized.