Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol and Phenol Derivatives Using a Nano-TiO2 Catalyst: Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Factors Using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

Due to the toxicity effects and endocrine disrupting properties of phenolic compounds, their removal from water and wastewater has gained widespread global attention. In this study, the photocatalytic degradation of phenolic compounds in the presence of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nano-particles and UV light was investigated. A full factorial design consisting of three factors at three levels was used to examine the effect of particle size, temperature and reactant type on the apparent degradation rate constant. The individual effect of TiO 2 particle size (5, 10 and 32 nm), temperature (23, 30 and 37 °C) and reactant type (phenol, o-cresol and m-cresol) on the apparent degradation rate constant was determined. A regression model was developed to relate the apparent degradation constant to the various factors. The largest photocatalytic activity was observed at an optimum TiO 2 particle size of 10 nm for all reactants. The apparent degradation rate constant trend was as follows: o-cresol > m-cresol > phenol. The ANOVA data indicated no significant interaction between the experimental factors. The lowest activation energy was observed for o-cresol degradation using 5-nm TiO 2 particles. A maximum degradation rate constant of 0.0138 minwas recorded for o-cresol at 37 °C and a TiO 2 particle size of 13 nm at a D-optimality value of approximately 0.98. The response model adequately related the apparent degradation rate constant to the factors within the range of factors under consideration.

Effective heterogeneous electro-Fenton process of m-cresol with iron loaded actived carbon

“…[1][2][3][4] In addition, cresols are extensively used in resin manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, tri-cresylic acid and surfactants, therefore they are released in the wastewaters from those industries. Several processes have been developed for the treatment of phenol polluted wastewaters: biodegradation, 5,6 conventional physico-chemical methods such as adsorption, 7,8 and conventional advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as photodegradation, 9,10 Fenton oxidation 1,11 and their combinations. Several processes have been developed for the treatment of phenol polluted wastewaters: biodegradation, 5,6 conventional physico-chemical methods such as adsorption, 7,8 and conventional advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as photodegradation, 9,10 Fenton oxidation 1,11 and their combinations.…”

Degradation of Phenolic Compounds Through UV and Visible- Light-Driven Photocatalysis: Technical and Economic Aspects

“…Because of several limitations of the conventional phenol degradation processes, researchers are now relying on advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the complete mineralization of phenols. AOPs provide much faster degradation rate with the participation of hydroxyl radical (HO • ), and phenols are mineralized to CO 2 and water instead of transferring the pollutants from one phase to another [4]. Heterogeneous photocatalysis process became very popular among the AOPs, and it requires mainly three components such as (i) semiconductor photocatalyst, (ii) light energy (UV or visible or solar), and (iii) electron donor or hole acceptor.…”

“…When semiconductor photocatalyst is illuminated with light energy greater than the band gap of the photocatalyst, charge carriers (i.e., electron-hole pair) are produced which ultimately generate hydroxyl radicals (HO • ) in the system. Recently, photocatalytic degradation of phenol and phenolic compounds in wastewater has been extensively studied by several research groups [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) photocatalyst is frequently used in the degradation of phenols under ultraviolet light [14][15][16].…”

CuO/WO3/TiO2 photocatalyst for degradation of phenol wastewater

“…Phenol and its derivatives are organic pollutants that penetrate in water sources through the e uent of oil shale processing, petroleum re ning, and chemical industries [1]. Because of their toxicity and carcinogenic properties, phenolic compounds are very dangerous for the environment and human health [1,2].…”

“…Phenol and its derivatives are organic pollutants that penetrate in water sources through the e uent of oil shale processing, petroleum re ning, and chemical industries [1]. Because of their toxicity and carcinogenic properties, phenolic compounds are very dangerous for the environment and human health [1,2]. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a water treatment method that uses ultraviolet (UV) light with semiconductors and has a major advantage of complete conversion of organic pollutants to CO 2 , H 2 O, and mineral acids [3,4].…”