Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
31417 Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews 2006 18 Pages PDF
Abstract

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a process of great potential for pollutant abatement and waste treatment. In order to improve the overall performance of the photoprocess, heterogeneous photocatalysis is being combined with physical or chemical operations, which affect the chemical kinetics and/or the overall efficiency. This review addresses the various possibilities to couple heterogeneous photocatalysis with other technologies to photodegrade organic and inorganic pollutants dissolved in actual or synthetic aqueous effluents. These combinations increase the photoprocess efficiency by decreasing the reaction time in respect to the separated operations or they decrease the cost in respect of heterogeneous photocatalysis alone, generally in terms of light energy. Depending on the operation coupled with heterogeneous photocatalysis, two categories of combinations exist. When the coupling is with ultrasonic irradiation, photo-Fenton reaction, ozonation, or electrochemical treatment, the combination affects the photocatalytic mechanisms thus improving the efficiency of the photocatalytic process. When the coupling is with biological treatment, membrane reactor, membrane photoreactor, or physical adsorption, the combination does not affect the photocatalytic mechanisms but it improves the efficiency of the overall process. The choice of the coupling is related to the type of wastewater to be treated. A synergistic effect, giving rise to an improvement of the efficiency of the photocatalytic process, has been reported in the literature for many cases.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Bioengineering
Authors
, , , ,