A Semi-Pilot Photocatalytic Rotating Reactor (RFR) with Supported TiO2/Ag Catalysts for Water Treatment

• Main Authors: Carlos Montalvo-Romero, Claudia Aguilar-Ucán, Roberto Alcocer-Dela hoz, Miguel Ramirez-Elias, Victor Cordova-Quiroz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-01-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: rotating photocatalytic reactor; TiO2/Ag catalysts; water treatment
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/23/1/224

A four stage semi-pilot scale RFR reactor with ceramic disks as support for TiO2 modified with silver particles was developed for the removal of organic pollutants. The design presented in this article is an adaptation of the rotating biological reactors (RBR) and its coupling with the modified catalyst provides additional advantages to designs where a catalyst in suspension is used. The optimal parameter of rotation was 54 rpm and the submerged surface of the disks offer a total contact area of 387 M2. The modified solid showed a decrease in the value of its bandgap compared to commercial titanium. The system has a semi-automatic operation with a maximum reaction time of 50 h. Photo-activity tests show high conversion rates at low concentrations. The results conform to the Langmuir heterogeneous catalysis model.