Illumination conditions of photocatalyst-containing mist on the degradation of organic compounds

Abstract

Photocatalysis is a promising method for treating wastewater containing toxic organic pollutants. To improve the degradation of those pollutants, the utilization of mist that contains photocatalysts has been considered. In this study, the light illumination conditions of the mist that affect photocatalytic degradation were investigated to provide insight into the design of reactors that utilize photocatalyst-containing mist. In the reactor, UV light, ultrasound (US), and US-generated mist were applied to a mixture containing the TiO₂ photocatalyst and phenol as the model organic pollutant. The results indicated that higher UV intensities and TiO₂ dosages affected the illumination conditions to improve the degradation of phenol. However, at higher TiO₂ dosages, mist was not generated, so its enhanced illumination was not utilized in the degradation reactions. The analysis of the reaction kinetics suggested the enhancement of the illumination condition by the mist. These findings provide insight into the design of the reactor that utilizes photocatalyst-containing mist to improve the irradiation conditions and promote photocatalytic reactions.