Photocatalytic degradation and reactor modeling of 17α-ethynylestradiol employing titanium dioxide-incorporated foam concrete

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015 Mar;22(5):3508-17. doi: 10.1007/s11356-014-3573-5. Epub 2014 Sep 23.

Abstract

Photocatalytic degradation of 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) using TiO2 photocatalysts incorporated with foam concrete (TiO2/FC) was investigated for the first time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study of the samples revealed a narrow air void size distribution on the surface of FC cubes on with 5 wt% addition of P25 TiO2, and TiO2 particles were distributed heterogeneously on the surface of TiO2/FC samples. The sorption and photocatalytic degradation of EE2 with UV-light irradiation by TiO2/FC cubes were investigated. Adsorption capacity of EE2 by the TiO2/FC and blank foam concrete (FC) samples were similar, while the degradation rates showed a great difference. More than 50 % of EE2 was removed by TiO2/FC within 3.5 h, compared with 5 % by blank FC. The EE2 removal process was then studied in a photoreactor modified from ultraviolet disinfection pool and constructed with TiO2/FC materials. An integrated model including a plate adsorption-scattering model and a modified flow diffusion model was established to simulate the photocatalytic degradation process with different radiation fields, contaminant load, and flow velocity. A satisfactory agreement was observed between the model simulations and experimental results, showing a potential for the design and scale-up of the modified photocatalytic reactor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Coal Ash / chemistry
  • Ethinyl Estradiol / analysis*
  • Ethinyl Estradiol / radiation effects
  • Manufactured Materials
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Particle Size
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / chemistry
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • Ultraviolet Rays*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / radiation effects
  • Water Purification / methods*
  • Water Quality

Substances

  • Coal Ash
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • titanium dioxide
  • Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • Titanium