The extended use of actinometry in the interpretation of photochemical reaction engineering data

This contribution shows the way that actinometric measurements can be used as one of the most precise and simple methods to estimate the above mentioned boundary condition for both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, an indispensable parameter to calculate with precise models based in the general radiation transport equation, the light distribution inside the reaction space. This local property is needed to formulate the initiation step of any photochemical reaction scheme when operation is made in the kinetic control regime. Consequently it will be always included in any properly developed complete reaction kinetic model. The proposed extended application is illustrated with one example employing a reactor used in photocatalytic reactions.