Photocatalytic Decomposition of Dye polluted Wastewater Using Titanium Dioxide and Graphitic Carbon Nitride

Abstract

Advanced oxidation process (AOPs) is an alternative to the classical wastewater treatment methods which are environmentally friendly, producing harmless end-products such as CO2 and H2O2. APOs are in-situ treatment processes characterized by the generation of highly reactive intermediates (OH radicals) which can oxidize the target organic pollutants. This paper studied the operational parameters influencing the photocatalytic degradation rate of methylene blue in dye polluted wastewater treatment. These parameters are initial dye concentration, catalyst concentration, H2O2 volume. The catalysts used were titanium dioxide (TiO2) and supported Graphene (g-C3N4). Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used in all experimental work to increase the efficiency of the UV / TiO2 process and supported Graphene (g-C3N4). The experiments of UV lamp revealed that the best degradation is at 5 ppm initial dye concentration, 0.5 g from g-C3N4 and 5 ml/dm3 H2O2 with efficiency 54.8 % at 180 minutes by using solar UV. The experiments of solar UV illustrated that the best degradation is at 15 ppm initial dye concentration, 0.5 g from g-C3N4 and 5 ml H2O2 with efficiency 80.64 % at 120 minutes. It’s confirmed that using the solar unit is the best choice for the photocatalytic oxidation process