Author : K.R. Gota, Shakti Sanago and S. Suresh

Photocatalytic degradation of phenol (P) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in aqueous solutions by different individual as well as combined sources (halogen light, H2O2, TiO2) were studied. The influences of various operating parameters including the initial pollutant concentration (100–1000 mg/l), solution pH (3–11), and reaction time (1-6 h). The removal efficiency of halogen, H2O2/sunlight, halogen/H2O2, TiO2, TiO2/halogen, TiO2/halogen/H2O2 photocatalytic degradation systems with various operation conditions had 24% 30% 39%, 46%, 53% and 64%; 33%, 49%, 62%, 70%, 79% and 87% for P and 4-NP, respectively. It is found that maximum removal of P and 4NP were obtained at pH 11, C0 =100 mg/l, 4h reaction time. Combined halogen/H2O2/TiO2 process may be applied as an effective process for removal of P and 4NP from aqueous solution such as industrial wastewater and polluted water resources.

Keywords: Photocatalytic degradation, phenol, 4-nitrophenol, halogen, TiO2, H2O2.

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.4,No.1 (Feb- 2014)