Solar Concentration for Wastewaters Remediation: A Review of Materials and Technologies

Abstract

As the effectiveness of conventional wastewater treatment processes is increasingly challenged by the growth of industrial activities, a demand for low-cost and low-impact treatments is emerging. A possible solution is represented by systems coupling solar concentration technology with advanced oxidation processes (AOP). In this paper, a review of solar concentration technologies for wastewater remediation is presented, with a focus on photocatalyst materials used in this specific research context. Recent results, though mostly on model systems, open promising perspectives for the use of concentrated sunlight as the energy source powering AOPs. We identify (i) the development of photocatalyst materials capable of efficiently working with sunlight, and (ii) the transition to real wastewater investigation as the most critical issues to be addressed by research in the field.

Main parameters influencing the design of photocatalytic reactors for wastewater treatment: a mini review

“…Meanwhile, slurry solar photoreactors use transparent tubular reactors externally irradiated by sunlight irradiation, exploiting, in this way, the UV portion of solar light. The design of photoreactors based on solar collectors has already been extensively reviewed, 67 operating from the observation that UV light is expensive in terms of lamp manufacturing and electricity consumption. The Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) photoreactor is very popular, 68,69 and it is generally composed of a number of pyrex tubes connected in series and irradiated by concentrated solar light transmitted by a parabolic round mirror, which permits a concentration of sunlight equivalent to 25 or 70 suns, depending on mirror area and aperture diameter 70 .…”

Large-scale study for the photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol using Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposite catalyst and CPC reactor under natural sunlight radiations

“…2. The CPCR is considered one of the concentrating solar collector systems [13]. As can be seen from Fig.…”

Application and Evaluation of Energy Conservation Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants

“…Although the technology is simple and its cost (investment and operation) is low, it cannot deal with much wastewater. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are chemical reactions that oxidize pollutants are removed via oxidation by highly reactive radicals [54]. It can degrade natural toxins, emerging pollutants, pesticides, and other harmful pollutants efficiently.…”