Novel photocatalytic reactor for degradation of DDT in water and its optimization model

A novel photocatalytic reactor was developed to remove (1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane) (DDT) from water. In the reactor, a cenosphere was used to support TiO2 film made by means of sol-gel. Because the cenospheres were coated with TiO2, their specific gravity was slightly increased from the original 0.6 similar to 0.8 to 0.8 similar to 0.9, so that they were able to be suspended in water. With the mixed operation of a bubbler, the water in the reactor was in a well-fluidized state. The bottom of the reactor is a sand filter bed, which can be used to prevent the photocatalyst from being lost. A mathematical model of the reactor has been developed in the two primary influential factors: ultraviolet (UV) light intensity and photocatalyst concentration. With such a model, the reactor can be designed more reasonably.