Phenol Removal from Wastewater in Petroleum Refineries by Managing Flow Characteristics and Nanocatalyst in Ozonized Bubble Column

Abstract

Packed bubble column reactor (PBCR) is an efficient category of multiphase reactors in the petroleum and petrochemical industries. The hydrodynamics parameters in this reactor regard the main imaginary mirror that reflects the operating performance. In the present study, the removal of phenol was achieved from wastewater using a PBCR with TiO₂ as a nanocatalyst. The reactor was constructed from QF-glass of 150 cm in height and 8 cm in diameter. The phenol degradation process was carried out in the presence of ozone as a gas phase in the chemical reaction. The superficial gas velocity in the reactor was studied at different gas velocities (i.e., 0.7, 1.3, 2, 2.7, and 3.4 cm/s). The results showed that superficial gas velocity plays an important task in determining the bubble size, bubble rise velocity, and reactor flow patterns. All these parameters provided clear indications for the high-performance reactor and then the high reaction rate of phenol degradation. Moreover, the results showed that the highest phenol removal of 100% was obtained with TiO₂ NPs as a heterogeneous catalyst in the ozonation process. Also, it was notice that the mass transfer process and the contact time and surface area inside the reactor are improved by the use of packing material in BCR. All these parameters will provide an efficient phenol degradation mechanism in the reactor. Finally, the use of packed bubble columns in the present experimental work improves wastewater treatment with simple operation, low cost, and high performance.