Removal of methylene blue dye from textile simulated sample using tubular reactor and TiO[2]/UV-C photocatalytic process

ABSTRACT

In this study, photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was examined using different concentrations of TiO[2] nano-particles [diameters less than 21 nm] and ultraviolet [UV-C] radiation in a tubular reactor. Different concentrations of catalyst [0.3-1.2 g/L], different pH conditions [3, 7 and 9] and dye concentration [15, 30 and 60 mg/L] as well as sample rotation level [125 mL/min] were studied. The sample passed 1-7 times through the quartz reactor exposed to UV-C ray [constant intensity = 2.8 mW/cm[2]] [every rotation time was 8 min]. Results of this research showed clearly that methylene blue is significantly degradable by TiO[2] and UV-C radiation. Increasing dye concentration resulted in decreased efficiency and thus, as more samples passed through quarts tube, removal efficiency increased. Methylene blue with concentration of 15 mg/L and after 7 rotations in the reactor [56 min] was removed with the efficiency of 98%. Subsequent to dye removal, 47% of initial COD decreased simultaneously