Photocatalytic membrane processes for degradation of various types of organic pollutants and micropollutants in water.

Abstract

Degradation tests in a photocatalytic membrane system have been carried out using TiO2 (Degussa P25) as catalyst and humic acid, organic dyes, 4-nitrophenol as pollutants. The influence of UV radiation and initial concentration of pollutant on the photodegradation rate were investigated in discontinuous and continuous systems. Experimental results showed that it is possible to obtain an efficient photocatalytic membrane process, but various parameters (e.g. pH) should be optimised to obtain high reaction rate and high membrane rejection of pollutants and their by-products.