University of New Orleans ScholarWorks@UNO University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations Dissertations and Theses Spring 5-17-2013 Preliminary Experiments on Photo-Electro Catalytic Oxidation of Recalcitrant Organic Compounds Dissolved in Water Mohammed A. Elsegeiny [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td Recommended Citation Elsegeiny, Mohammed A., "Preliminary Experiments on Photo-Electro Catalytic Oxidation of Recalcitrant Organic Compounds Dissolved in Water" (2013). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 1626. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1626 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by ScholarWorks@UNO with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights- holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Preliminary Experiments on Photo-Electro Catalytic Oxidation of Recalcitrant Organic Compounds Dissolved in Water A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of New Orleans in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science In Environmental Engineering By Mohammed Elsegeiny B.S. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL 2007 May 2013 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to express his sincere appreciation and gratitude to Professor Enrique LaMotta and PhD candidate researcher Guillermo Rincon for their assistance in the preparation of this manuscript and assistance with the photocatalytic oxidation reactor project. The author also thanks the environmental engineering graduate researchers, Blake and Lauren Cagle, for their assistance in the construction of the photocatalytic reactor and their familiarity with the needs of the design setup. Their ideas were extremely helpful during the formation phase of this undertaking. Similar complex projects were simultaneously executed during the time of study, and hence, in addition, Michael Gordon is thanked for his valuable input. Special thanks are also given to the Physics Department of the University of New Orleans, for assisting with the development of doped titanium oxide for the improved progression of positive results and the potential use for further technological research. Finally, full appreciations to Dr. Bhaskar Kura and Dr. John A McCorquodale for editing this thesis to bring it to a professional standard. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures............................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. vii Abstract.......................................................................................................................................viii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Objective .................................................................................................................... 1 2. Literature Review ....................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Photocatalysis Technology ...................................................................................... 2 2.1.1 Definitions and Process ................................................................................... 3 2.1.2 Photocatalysis Oxidation Properties .............................................................. 6 2.1.2.1 Photocatalytic Theory .......................................................................... 8 2.2 Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysis........................................................................... 11 2.2.1 Doped Titanium Dioxide ............................................................................... 13 2.2.2 Secondary Catalysis ......................................................................................... 14 2.3 Electrolysis of Water ............................................................................................... 15 2.3.1 Electrified Cells ................................................................................................ 16 2.3.2 Electrolytic Cell to Assist in Oxidation ....................................................... 17 2.4 Combined Theories ................................................................................................. 18 3. Preparation for Experimental Trials .................................................................................... 20 3.1 Design of Batch Reactor ........................................................................................ 20 3.1.1 List of Other Various Photocatalytic Reactors .......................................... 22 3.1.2 Construction Phases ......................................................................................... 24 3.1.2.1 Redesigned on Failed Results ......................................................... 25 3.2 Preparation of Coat ................................................................................................. 28 iii 3.2.1 Chromium Ion Placement within Titanium Oxide Lattice ..................... 29 3.2.2 Application of Silver Ion ................................................................................ 32 3.2.3 Coat Application .............................................................................................. 32 3.3 Analysis of Organic Degradation ......................................................................... 33 3.3.1 Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Analysis ....................................................... 32 3.3.2 Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Analysis ............................................. 35 3.3.3 Secondary Variables ( pH, temperature, and conductivity) .................... 34 3.4 Experimentation and Sampling ............................................................................. 36 3.4.1 Preparation of Organic Contaminates ........................................................ 36 3.4.2 Charging Cells, Voltage, and Current Monitoring .................................... 39 3.4.3 Photocatalytic System ...................................................................................... 40 4. Results and Analysis ................................................................................................................ 42 4.1 Kinetic Study ........................................................................................................... 42 4.2 Analysis of Non-electrical Photocatalysis .......................................................... 43 4.3 Results of Final Stage of Research ....................................................................... 43 4.3.1 Visual Observations ................................................................................ 46 4.3.2 Data Analysis .......................................................................................... 47 4.3.3 Bases for Langmuir-Hinshelwood .................................................... 55 5. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 56 5.1 Recommendations ................................................................................................... 58 5.2 Design Task for Continuous Flow Reactor ....................................................... 58 5.3 Feasibility within Water Treatment Technologies ............................................ 59 References ................................................................................................................................ 60 VITA ........................................................................................................................................... 64 iv LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. Photocatalytic Process ................................................................................9 Figure 2. Various Redox Potential ......................................................................... 11 Figure 3. Assembled Photocatalytic Reactor ........................................................ 21 Figure 4. View of the Electrolysis Cells ................................................................. 22 Figure 5. Doped TiO2-Coated Graphite Plates .................................................... 25 Figure 6. Cumulative Photoactivated Reactions ................................................. 29 Figure 7. Doped Chromium Titanium Dioxide Solution .................................. 31 Figure 8. Torch Combustion TOC/TN Analyzer .............................................. 34 Figure 9. HACH DRB 200 COD Reactor .......................................................... 35 Figure 10. Organic Compounds ............................................................................. 38 Figure 11. Trial Preparation ..................................................................................... 39 Figure 12. Four Liter Rhodamine