A novel fluidized-bed-optical-fibers photocatalytic reactor (FBOFPR) and its performance

• A novel fluidized-bed-optical-fibers photocatalytic reactor was designed.
• It is a combination of fluidized-bed photocatalytic reactor with optical fiber.
• Its light irradiation is easy quantification.
• Its apparent photon quantum efficiency is 26.31%.
• Its turnover frequency is 12.44 μmol/(g TiO2 min).

The key in designing a photocatalytic reactor lies in resolving the problems of mass transfer, light transmission and light scattering. Especially, the light scattering of catalyst is very acute, which makes the accurate quantification of light irradiation difficult. In this study, a novel fluidized-bed-optical-fibers photocatalytic reactor (FBOFPR) with easy quantification of light irradiation was designed by combining fluidized-bed photocatalytic reactor with optical-fiber light source that its optical fibers were fixed by an aluminum fixed jacket for UV total reflection, and its performance was tested by using trichloroethylene (TCE) as a target pollutant. The results show that, under the condition of water vapor content at 0.25%, oxygen content at 20.8%, initial concentration of TCE at 303.32 ppm, input light amount at 3.07 × 1017 s−1 and residence time at 1.6 s, the apparent photon quantum efficiency is 26.31%, the turnover frequency is 12.44 μmol/(g TiO2 min) and the removal efficiency is 86.66%. Compared with the conventional flat plate fluidized-bed photocatalytic reactor, FBOFPR exhibits many advantages in the aspect of effective use of photon, sufficient exertion of catalyst activity, effective removal of TCE and easy quantification of light irradiation.

A novel fluidized-bed-optical-fibers photocatalytic reactor with easy quantification of light irradiation was designed. Under the condition of water vapor content at 0.25%, oxygen content at 20.8%, TCE initial concentration at 303.32 ppm, total photon number at 5.0 × 1017 s−1 and aluminum fixed jacket for optical fiber, the apparent photon quantum efficiency is 26.31%, the turnover frequency is 12.44 μmol/(g TiO2 min) and the removal efficiency is 86.66%.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (107 K)Download as PowerPoint slide