Comparative Efficiencies for Phenol Degradation on Solar Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Reactors: Flat Plate and Compound Parabolic Collector

Phenol is a recalcitrant anthropogenic compound whose presence has been reported in both wastewater and drinking water; human exposure to phenolic substances can lead to health problems. The degradation of phenol (measured as COD decrease) through solar heterogeneous photocatalysis with immobilized...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Felipe de J. Silerio-Vázquez, Cynthia M. Núñez-Núñez, María T. Alarcón-Herrera, José B. Proal-Nájera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Catalysts
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/6/575
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Summary:Phenol is a recalcitrant anthropogenic compound whose presence has been reported in both wastewater and drinking water; human exposure to phenolic substances can lead to health problems. The degradation of phenol (measured as COD decrease) through solar heterogeneous photocatalysis with immobilized TiO<sub>2</sub> was performed in two different reactors: a flat-plate reactor (FPR) and a compound parabolic collector (CPC). A 2<sup>3</sup> full factorial experimental design was followed. The variables were the presence of TiO<sub>2</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> addition, and the type of reactor. Data were fitted to the pseudo-first-order reaction-rate-kinetics model. The rate constant for photocatalytic phenol degradation with 1 mM of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> was 6.6 × 10<sup>−3</sup> min<sup>−1</sup> for the FPR and 5.9 × 10<sup>−3</sup> min<sup>−1</sup> in the CPC. The calculated figures of merit were analyzed with a MANCOVA, with UV fluence as a covariate. An ANCOVA showed that the type of reactor, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> addition, or fluence had no statistically significant effect on the results, but there was for the presence of TiO<sub>2</sub>. According to the MANCOVA, fluence and TiO<sub>2</sub> presence were significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The CPC was on average 17.4% more efficient than the FPR when it came to collector area per order (<i>A<sub>CO</sub></i>) by heterogeneous photocatalysis and 1 mM H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> addition.
ISSN:2073-4344