(40d) Photocatalytic Processes to Remove Pollutants from Water

The removal of pollutants from waters (urban, industrial and agricultural) is increasingly widespread because of the demand of the society to have enough water at affordable prices, without harming the environment. The refractory nature of various compounds, found in water effluents, to classical biological treatments makes conventional purification treatments ineffective. In these cases the oxidizing photocatalytic processes can be a treatment option. The photocatalytic process which may generate hydroxyl radicals constitutes one of the most promising methods to abate pollutants. These treatments allow the use of solar energy of source of ultraviolet and visible radiation and the possible use of chemicals oxidants as ozone or hydrogen peroxide.

In this context, it has conducted a study comparing different treatments photochemical at laboratory scale for the elimination of organic pollutants in aqueous solution. The used photocatalytic oxidation treatments were photolysis UV, UV + H2O2, UV + Fe3+, UV + Fe3+ + H2O2 (PhotoFenton) and photocatalysis with TiO2 and they were compared according the radiation dose. As pollutants compound models 2,4-diclhorophenol (DCP) and sulfamethoxazol (SMX) were used. The results showed that the PhotoFenton treatment was the most effective in removing pollutants with good total organic carbon removal.