Photocatalytic Oxidation Process for Petroleum Wastewater Treatment and The Possibility of Using Tapered Bubble Column (TBC): A Review

The photocatalytic oxidation of organic and petroleum wastewater treatment is an advanced oxidation process (AOP) with several benefits. It operates at normal temperatures and pressure, is inexpensive, does not produce secondary waste, and us easily accessible. Many studies have employed bubble columns, slurry bubble columns, and three-phase fluidized reactors in the photocatalytic process for wastewater treatment. Pure TiO2 and Fe-doped TiO2 are considered the most promising catalysts. The aim of this work was to review the literature on the photocatalytic process for organic pollutants and petroleum wastewater (produced water) treatment, with a special focus on pure TiO2 and Fe-doped TiO2 as well as to study the possibility of using a tapered bubble column reactor for this treatment. A circulating upflow tapered bubble column reactor with a light lamp at the center facilitates the separation of the gas-liquid-solid phases with no dead zone in the photocatalytic process.