Photocatalytic reactor based on UV-LED/TiO2 coated quartz tube for degradation of dyes

A photocatalytic reactor using ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) source and TiO2 coated quartz tube (TiO2-QT) has been developed and successfully applied for the degradation of three different dyes such as malachite green (MG), methylene blue (MB), and rhodamine B (RhB). The TiO2 coated surface and solid catalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy. N-2 adsorption-desorption measurements and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy techniques for their structural, textural and electronic properties. The kinetic studies for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes were carried out and further confirmed by high pressure liquid chromatography and chemical oxygen demand analysis. Electrical energy per order (E-EO) for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes has been calculated. The operational parameters such as effect of flow rate, pH, and initial dye concentration has been studied for the degradation of MG dye to optimize the designed photocatalytic reactor. In addition to this, the degradation pathway for MG dye has been proposed based on the electro spray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis. The results demonstrated that the feasibility of utilization of developed reactor for the degradation of dyes. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.