Degradation of phenol in batik industry wastewater using thin layer TiO₂photocatalyst

Abstract

The synthesis of thin layer TiO2 photocatalyst has been performed and its performance was tested to the degradation of phenol in wastewater of batik industry. The powder of anatase TiO2 was impregnated in glass plate, so that thin layer TiO2 photocatalyst was obtained. The performance test of thin-layer TiO2 photocatalyst in the degradation of phenol was performed in a batch photoreactor equipped with six types of black light UV lamp (@10 watts) and a magnetic stirrer. This research has been performed at pH variation and UV radiation time. The result of this research showed that the initial concentration of phenol in batik wastewater was 3,3684 ppm. The optimum pH was obtained at pH 11 with percent degradation of 40.41%. The optimum UV radiation was obtained at 8 hours with percent degradation of 41.72%. The longer the irradiation time the more photon energy is absorbed by TiO2 causes more positive holes to be formed. The positive holes will react with H2O or hydroxyl ions to form OH radicals that further break down organic compounds in waste.