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| Author(s): |
Lisiane Perez Silva
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) |
| Defense date: | 2007-03-30 |
| Examining board members: |
Renato Sanches Freire;
Jivaldo do Rosário Matos;
Raquel Fernandes Pupo Nogueira
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| Advisor: | Renato Sanches Freire |
| Abstract | |
The main goal of this work was to find alternatives capable to promote an improvement in terms of applicability of the heterogeneous photocatalysis process, in order to make it feasible in large scale. The use of the photocatalyst TiO2 immobilized and also modificated with adsorbent materials was evaluated. The heterogeneous photocatalysis process, either using photocatalyst immobilized in glass or photocatalyst synthesized and modified with different adsorbent materials, showed good efficiency to degrade phenol, which was used as pollutant compound. The degradation percentages for solutions with initial concentration of 250 mg L-1 of phenol were above 80% after 120 minutes of treatment. The use of TiO2 under the immobilized form provided a reduction of total organic carbon levels up to 59% in 120 minutes. It is a promissory result, since it eliminated post treatment steps to recover the photocatalyst, when it is used under suspended form. However, the immobilization of TiO2 caused a decrease in photocatalyst activity compared to the suspension process. The synthesis of TiO2 with incorporation of supports to its surface was evaluated as an alternative to compensate the reduction of active surface area. In order to reach this goal, many materials were used as a porous support for synthesis of TiO2, such as: aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silica-gel, ordered mesoporous silica and activated carbon. Amongst them, the synthesized materials constituted of TiO2/SMO and TiO2/ activated carbon showed the best results for phenol mineralization. The incorporation of adsorbent materials to the TiO2 composition, besides to promote a raising in the phenol photoxidation, demonstrated to be a viable strategy to compensate the limitations caused by the photocatalyst immobilization process. (AU) | |