Photocatalytic degradation of phenolic effluents in petroleum refineries

Abstract

Petroleum refinery effluents such as phenol are very toxic and impose a serious ecological issues. The employment of UV/ZnO NRs system for the degradation of phenol in aqueous solution has been investigated in the present study. The ZnO NRs were synthesized by hydrothermal growth method and characterized spectroscopically exploiting SEM and UV-VIS. It was noticed that the degradation of phenol depends on several operational parameters such as the initial concentration (5ppm, 10 ppm or 20 ppm), the irradiation time (between 0 and 10 hours), and the UV light energy (365 nm or 254 nm). The photocatalytic degradation rates of phenol was observed to follow the pseudo first order kinetics according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. An efficient degradation of about 90 % was registered under 254 nm for an irradiation time of 10 hours.

Recent Advancements in the Treatment of Petroleum Refinery Wastewater

“…Hence, based on this, it can be ascertained that zinc oxide catalyst is very efficient at a high pH level. Similarly, a phenol degradation capacity of ZnO nanorods (NRs) grown on a glass substrate has been investigated by Daher et al [198] who reported about 90% phenolic degradation under 254 nm UV light energy within 10 h of irradiation time. Local South African oil refinery wastewater was also treated by Tetteh et al [199] via photocatalytic degradation using TiO 2 Degussa P25 catalyst comprising 80% anatase, and 20% rutile.…”

Recent Advancement in the Treatment of Petroleum Refinery Wastewater

“…Hence, based on this, it can be ascertained that zinc oxide catalyst has been found very proper at a high pH level. Similarly, the Phenols degradation capacity of ZnO nanorods (NRs) grown on a glass substrate has been investigated by Daher et al (2019) which reported about 90% phenolic degradation under 254 nm UV light energy within 10 hours of irradiation time. Local South African oil refinery wastewater was treated by Tetteh et al (2020b) via photocatalytic degradation using TiO2 Degussa P25 catalyst comprising 80% anatase, and 20% rutile.…”