Solar Energy, Vol.205, 12-21, 2020
Evaluation of packed bed photoreactor performance in photocatalytic treatment of wastewater by solar irradiation: A novel strategy for immobilization of nano-sized anatase-graphene oxide composite on extruded rod like metakaolin support
Anatase-graphene oxide nanocomposites were immobilized on extruded rod like metakaolin support via 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and successfully employed for the photocatalytic treatment of wastewater contaminated by organic dye under solar irradiation. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by measuring the dye degradation efficiency to determine the appropriate composition for decoration. In order to achieve maximum degradation rate, the graphene oxide/anatase ratio should be controlled at the level of 0.005. The packed bed fabricated with six coated layers on metakaolin rod exhibited higher activity level in comparison to bed prepared with one coated layer. No significant deactivation was observed after seven runs, verifying the photocatalyst stability and reusability. In conclusion, based on introduced strategy for decoration of nano-sized photocatalyst on porous support, it is possible to overcome the separation problem arising from the application of photocatalysts in powder form in the conventional slurry photoreactors which is great of importance from engineering point of view.
Keywords:Solar irradiation;Packed bed;Photoreactor;Wastewater;Anatase-graphene oxide;Metakaolin support