Photocatalytic degradation of RB5 textile dye using immobilized TiO2 in brass structured systems

In this paper, it was used a monolithic-type structured photoreactor with a high surface area calcined brass as a substrate for TiO2-P25. The TiO2 immobilization over the monoliths was carried out by the washcoating process. The films were characterized via XRD and diffuse reflectance. The monoliths were tested at a recirculation reactor using a solar simulator as an energy source and their efficiency was evaluated at Reactive Black 5 (RB5) textile dye photodegradation. It was investigated the effect of the impregnated catalyst mass, the monolith size, the initial dye concentration and the reaction medium pH. The preliminary tests of the brass calcination temperature (500, 600, and 700 degrees C) showed the formation of ZnO and CuO semiconductors at the brass surface, thus suggesting that the monoliths can act as photocatalysts. Furthermore, the brass calcined at 500 degrees C showed the greater formation of both oxides (ZnO and CuO) and greater photocatalytic efficiency. The TiO2/brass monolith presented more than 59 % of degradation for an initial dye concentration of 12.5 mg.L-1. In regarding to stability test, the system set forth a decrease at RB5 degradation efficiency of 62 % and presented an adherence of 77.5 % after 5 cycles of monoliths reuse. Therefore, the brass monolithic systems with immobilized TiO2 showed to be a feasible alternative for textile effluent treatment.