New photocatalytic reactor with TiO2 coating on sintered glass cylinders

The antibiotic flumequine was used to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 coating on sintered glass cylinders (SGC) tailored on a 0.5-l annular reactor. The cylinders were prepared with finely powdered silicate glass (150–600 μm) and then coated with titania Degussa P-25 by thermal treatment. The impregnated SGC were characterized by surface techniques such as EDS, SEM and XRD. The coated cylinders present homogeneous porosity, high mechanical strength, and good light transparency. The photocatalytic activity evaluated against flumequine was found to be comparable to the photocatalytic activity presented by titania in aqueous suspension. After 20 min irradiation, around 55% and 80% of 18 ppm flumequine was degraded by irradiation with black light (360 nm) or germicidal lamp (254 nm), respectively. A high reproducibility of the activity was observed when the reaction was continually repeated using the impregnated cylinders. The antibactericidal activity of irradiated solutions was evaluated in Escherichia coli cultures showing significant inhibition.