NEW REACTOR DESIGN FOR PHOTOCATALYTIC WASTE-WATER TREATMENT WITH TIO2 IMMOBILIZED ON FUSED-SILICA GLASS-FIBERS - PHOTOMINERALIZATION OF 4-CHLOROPHENOL

A new reactor design for the use of titanium dioxide-coated fused-silica glass fibers for wastewater treatment is described. The manufacture of the coating of the fibers is explained in detail. 4-Chlorophenol was used as the test compound. The influences of temperature and irradiation wavelength and the effect of hydrogen peroxide addition were investigated. Activation energy for the initial attack of an OH radical on 4-chlorophenol was calculated to be 20.6 kJ/mol. Degradation rates and quantum yields obtained with this reactor were compared with results measured with Degussa P25 TiO2-slurry treatment. With the present design, the degradation rate of 4-chlorophenol is 1.6 times higher and the destruction of the total organic carbon (TOC) is 2.8 times faster.