Journal of Advanced Chemical Engineering

Abstract

Photocatalytic Degradation of Solophenyl Red 3 BL in an Aqueous Suspension of Titanium Dioxide

A. Boukhennoufa, M. Bouhelassa, and A. Zoulalian

The wastewater from the textile industry generates a serious problem for environment by the presence of compounds such as dyes, resistant to the natural and conventional treatment. In this work, the photocatalytic degradation of aqueous solution of an azo-dye as Solophenyl red 3 BL was investigated, using a semiconductor (TiO2) and a UV lamp. The decolorization of dye aqueous solution was controlled by spectrophotometry. Photolysis is enhanced by the addition of TiO2 particles. The degradation rate depends on the initial pH of the suspension and it goes through a minimum at neutral pH. For a fixed concentration of dye, degradation rate increases with the oxygen concentration and temperature. The influence of temperature on the rate constant corresponds to activation energy of 31.9 kJ/mol. Intensity and geometry of UV radiation and the addition of hydrogen peroxide, are significant parameters whose influence is directly related to changes in the concentrations of OH• and O?• 2 radicals.