Photocatalytic membrane reactor for degradation of phenol in aqueous solution

Degradation of phenol in aqueous solution in a photocatalytic membrane reactor is reported. The photocatalysts evaluated were TiO2, TiO2-AC, as well as TiO2/AC prepared by a soak and heating method. Preliminary investigation of the UV irradiation stability of four prepared membranes (PES, PESTi, PVDF and PP) was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and determinations of water permeation flux and weight loss. The results showed that the membrane prepared by polyvinyl idenefluoride (PVDF) was stable to UV irradiation over 62 h. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2/AC catalyst was better than that of the other two photocatalysts. The selected membrane had the capability to retain the catalyst and to reject the partially degraded organic species. The photocatalytic membrane reactor combines both the advantages of a classical photoreactor, in which the catalyst is in suspension, and membrane processes, where separation at molecular level takes place, and, therefore, seems to be very attractive.