Solar/lamp-irradiated tubular photoreactor for air treatment with transparent supported photocatalysts

Abstract

a b s t r a c tA novel versatile tubular reactor that may use both types of radiation, solar and/or artificial, and different types of suspended or immobilized photocatalysts is proposed. The photocatalytic reactor was evaluated for air treatment at laboratory scale and semi-pilot-plant scale. UV-A transparent immobilized photocatalysts were employed, which allowed an efficient use of radiation. Two different types of photocatalytic modules were tested: (a) TiO 2 -coated PET monoliths and (b) TiO 2 -coated glass slides, arranged in monolith-like units with the help of especially designed star-shaped polygonal structures. Both types of units were easy to handle and assured the adequate distribution of the photocatalyst inside the tubular reactor. The efficiency of the photocatalytic system with both solar and artificial radiation to oxidize the H 2 S contained in an air stream was demonstrated at the laboratory roof and in the treatment of real air of a wastewater treatment plant located in Madrid (Spain). As a consequence of the chemical nature of the pollutant, the photocatalytic activity decayed over time due to the accumulation of sulfate on the surface, but easy regeneration of the exhausted photocatalyst was achieved by washing with water.

Achievements and Trends in Photoelectrocatalysis: from Environmental to Energy Applications

“…Direct solar photoelectrocatalytic treatment can be performed using a simple setup containing a large area photoelectrode, carbon-PTFE air-diffusion cathode, air pump, and power supply [247]. A tubular photoreactor was also used in a PEC system for air treatment [248,249]. In addition, Tantis and collaborators strategically placed the photoanode at the center of the photoreactor and expanded the number of lamp sources covered by a metallic reflecting cylinder in order to enhance degradation efficiency [250].…”

Gas phase oxidation of n-decane and PCE by photocatalysis using an annular photoreactor packed with a monolithic catalytic bed coated with P25 and PC500

“…The most common photoreactors are tubular, annular and flat plate types [20][21][22]. Regarding the photocatalyst structural configuration, thin-film powder layer and/or fluidized bed [21,23], coated wall-parallel [24,25] and honeycomb/foam monolithic reactors [26][27][28] are probably the most representative.…”

Bio-inspired design: Inner-motile multifunctional ZnO/CdS heterostructures magnetically actuated artificial cilia film for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

“…However, traditional pholocatalysts are used in suspension in the form of powders [1,2], which made them hard to retrieve. Then the photocatalyst films [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] became the focus of research gradually. Nevertheless, traditional films are inflexible.…”