Nanophotocatalysis using nanoparticles of titania: Mineralization and finite element modelling of Solophenyl dye decolorization

This paper investigates the mineralization and numerical finite element model for simulation of decolorization of Solophenyl Red 3BL (SR) by nanophotocatalysis using immobilized titania nanoparticle. A simple and effective method was developed for the immobilization of titania nanoparticles. UV–vis, ion chromatography (IC) and total organic carbon (TOC) analyses were employed to obtain the details of the photocatalytic decolorization and mineralization of SR. The nitrate and sulfate anions were detected as photocatalytic mineralization products of SR. Ninety-two percent total organic carbon can be eliminated after 240 min of irradiation time.The SEEP/W model was incorporated into the CTRN/W model and modified to solve mathematical equation describing decolorization process. The numerical model was first calibrated with an analytical equation for a simple mass transport problem through groundwater flow system. The simulation results were then compared to those results obtained from an experimental test for the decolorization of SR by nanophotocatalysis process and close agreement was achieved.