Photocatalytic degradation of Tire Cord manufacturing wastewater using an immobilized nanoTiO₂ photocatalytic reactor

Abstract

In this study, an immobilized nanoTiO₂ photocatalyst was developed for the degradation of Tire Cord manufacturing wastewater with low BOD₅/COD ratio (0.1–0.2). The interactive effects of three numerical independent factors (initial COD concentration, initial pH, and reaction time) on the process performance were studied. The process performance was evaluated by monitoring three process responses including COD removal efficiency, specific COD removal rate and BOD₅/COD ratio after treatment. The process was modeled and analyzed using response surface methodology. Maximum COD removal efficiency and BOD₅/COD ratio were modeled to be 38% and 0.5, respectively, at COD_in of 350 mg/l and initial pH of 11. The photocatalytic process induced by O₃ and O₃/H₂O₂ showed a remarkable improvement in the process responses studied. Photocatalytic process with sequence regeneration with ozonation could achieve higher COD removal efficiency and BOD₅/COD ratio relative to that obtained from regeneration by aeration.

Keywords:

• Tire Cord wastewater
• Photocatalytic degradation
• Immobilized photocatalytic reactor
• Titanium dioxide

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Kermanshah Department of Environment for providing analytical equipment to measure quality parameters. The authors would also like to acknowledge the cooperation of Mr S. Ghanbari for his fantastic and unique job in the fabrication of the immobilized photocatalytic reactor setup. Special thanks also go to Mr Kaboudi for his assistance in GC-MS analysis.