Fabrication of an optical fiber monolithic reactor for photocatalytic wastewater treatment

• Grant number: 19/12212-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: September 01, 2019
• End date: August 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Younes Messaddeq
• Grantee: Joy Sankar Roy
• Supervisor: Tigran Galstian
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université Laval, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/16826-6 - Multi material exploitation in manufacturing photocatalytic semiconductor glass fibers for pollution suppression, BP.PD

Abstract

In the 21st century, cost-effective sustainable wastewater treatment is most challanging to the researchers to protect environment and human beings. The photocatalysis is considered as most sustainable, eco-friendly and cost-effective process to purify wastewater. Thousands of paper have been reported on preparation and photocatalytic wastewater purification performance of the photocatalyst nanoparticles, but there is no report in literature on industrial applications of these photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. In this project, we will develop a monolithic reactor based on photocatalytic optical fiber for wastewater treatment. The optical fibers will be activated for photocatalysis by making thin coating of visible light active photocatalysts. Coating of photocatalysts on the optical fiber surface will be deposited such that the refractive index of the layer be higher than optical fiber and hence light transmits into layer to create electron-hole pairs. These electron-hole pairs will create hydroxyl and super oxide radicals and take part in oxidationand reduction process to degrade organic and inorganic pollutants in wastewater. The coated optical fibers will be tested for photocatalytic wastewater purification performane and will be kept inside of a plastic or glass cylinder to develop monolithic recator. A visible light source will be put on the top of the optical fiber bundle to deliver visible light inside the reactor through optical fiber. This new device will open new technological aspects for cost-effective sustainable wastewater treatment using solar energy.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ROY, JOY SANKAR; MESSADDEQ, YOUNES. Photoluminescence study of Eu3+ doped zinc-tungsten-antimonite glasses for red LED applications. Journal of Luminescence, v. 228, p. 4-pg., 2020-12-01. (19/12212-9, 15/22828-6, 17/16826-6)

ROY, JOY SANKAR; MORENCY, STEEVE; DUGAS, GABRIEL; MESSADDEQ, YOUNES. Development of an extremely concentrated solar energy delivery system using silica optical fiber bundle for deployment of solar energy: Daylighting to photocatalytic wastewater treatment. Solar Energy, v. 214, p. 93-100, JAN 15 2021. (19/12212-9, 17/16826-6, 15/22828-6)