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Development of Continuous Photocatalytic Reactor: Effect of Various Parameters

Sharad M Sontakke, Priyanka H. Kamble

Abstract


Water purification by heterogeneous photocatalysis is one of the rapidly growing areas of interest amongst the researchers. For mass application of the technology, efficient and economic reactor design is necessary which should address two important parameters, namely, light distribution inside the reactor and high surface area of irradiated catalyst per unit volume of reactor. The present study reports design of a continuous photocatalytic reactor using an easy-to-apply and economic TiO2 paste. TiO2 obtained by four different sources were studied and based on photoactivity as well as economy a suitable material was shortlisted. A paste of TiO2 was synthesized using the shortlisted material and coated on two different substrates, namely, glass and acrylic. Effect of various parameters such as choice of substrate, number of layers and number of coated slides on the photocatalytic degradation of Methylene blue was investigated in a batch photocatalytic reactor. The optimum conditions from the batch studies were used to design a continuous photocatalytic reactor. Degradation of Methylene blue was investigated in the continuous mode and it was observed that the reactor displayed same degradation efficiency for at least three cycles.

Keywords: continuous reactor, Methylene blue, photocatalysis, titanium dioxide

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References


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