Effects of Temperature and Photocatalysts on Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from Automotive Industry Sludge

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the removability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds existed in automotive industry treatment sludge. The impacts of temperature, UV, titanium dioxide (TiO₂), and diethyl amine (DEA) were studied in a controlled device which was specifically designed for this study. Sludge samples were collected from the treatment plant of an automotive manufacturing facility in Bursa, Turkey. The ∑₁₀ PAH concentration value in the sludge was 4480 ± 1450 ng/g dry matter (DM). ∑₁₀ PAH removal ratio was 30% at 37°C without UV irradiation. Moreover, the PAH content in the sludge was reduced up to 65% through applying UV irradiation. This figure reached 100% by using photo-catalysts (TiO₂ or DEA) at the rate of 20% of the DM of the sludge.

Key Words:

• diethyl amine
• temperature
• TiO₂
• treatment sludge
• UV

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by The Commission of Scientific Research Projects of Uludag University with Project Number: UAP (M) 2009/20. The authors would like to thank to Melike Ballica for her tiresome efforts during laboratory studies.