DEGRADATION OF 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE IN SIMULATED WASTEWATER SOLUTION: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY BY PHOTOCATALYSIS USING TiO₂ AND ZnO NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

The degradation of 1,2-DCA in simulated wastewater solution was studied by photocatalysis and its overall efficiency was compared with that of two conventional advanced oxidation processes, UV and H₂O₂/UV methods. The parameters affecting oxidation processes such as the initial concentration of 1,2-DCA, volume of H₂O₂, photocatalyst loading, UV intensity, and pH were evaluated with respect to the final results obtained. It was found that with the UV method just 55% of 1,2-DCA was removed after 6 h under 40 W UV radiation, but with the H₂O₂/UV method the removal reached 88% for a similar length of time and radiation intensity. In the latter method, the optimum molar ratio for H₂O₂/1,2-DCA was 0.0051. TiO₂ nanoparticles, as photocatalysts, performed more effectively than ZnO nanoparticles. The removal of 1,2-DCA reached 90% under the same conditions using the TiO₂/UV method. To sum up, the TiO₂/UV method was found to be the best method for degradation of 1,2-DCA under the optimum conditions of 200 ppm initial concentration of 1,2-DCA and 100 mg/L TiO₂ at pH 7 and higher.

Keywords:

• Advanced oxidation
• 1,2-dichloroethane
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Photocatalyst
• UV

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the National Iranian Petrochemical Company (NIPC) and its subsidiary, Bandar Imam Petrochemical Company (BIPC), for their financial support in carrying out this study. The authors gratefully acknowledge Mr. Amin Moavi, Head of Research Laboratory, Mr. Yaser Hoseini, chemistry researcher, and Mr. Hamidreza Goodarzbod, Head of Catalyst Research at BIPC research center, for all their assistance in this research.

Notes

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