TiO2 Photocatalyst Nanoparticle Separation: Flocculation in Different Matrices and Use of Powdered Activated Carbon as a Precoat in Low-Cost Fabric Filtration

Separation of photocatalyst nanoparticles is a problem impeding widespread application of photocatalytic oxidation. As sedimentation of photocatalyst particles is facilitated by their flocculation, the influence of common constituents of biologically pretreated wastewaters (NaCl, NaHCO3, and their c...

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Main Authors: Carlos F. Liriano-Jorge, Ugur Sohmen, Altan Özkan, Holger Gulyas, Ralf Otterpohl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/602495
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author Carlos F. Liriano-Jorge
Ugur Sohmen
Altan Özkan
Holger Gulyas
Ralf Otterpohl
author_facet Carlos F. Liriano-Jorge
Ugur Sohmen
Altan Özkan
Holger Gulyas
Ralf Otterpohl
author_sort Carlos F. Liriano-Jorge
collection DOAJ
description Separation of photocatalyst nanoparticles is a problem impeding widespread application of photocatalytic oxidation. As sedimentation of photocatalyst particles is facilitated by their flocculation, the influence of common constituents of biologically pretreated wastewaters (NaCl, NaHCO3, and their combination with humic acid sodium salt) on flocculation was tested by the pipet method. Results showed that the impact of these substances on TiO2 nanoparticle flocculation is rather complex and strongly affected by pH. When humic acid was present, TiO2 particles did not show efficient flocculation in the neutral and slightly basic pH range. As an alternative to photocatalyst separation by sedimentation, precoat vacuum filtration with powdered activated carbon (PAC) over low-cost spunbond polypropylene fabrics was tested in the presence of two PAC types in aqueous NaCl and NaHCO3 solutions as well as in biologically treated greywater and in secondary municipal effluent. PAC concentrations of ≥2 g/L were required in order to achieve a retention of nearly 95% of the TiO2 nanoparticles on the fabric filter when TiO2 concentration was 1 g/L. Composition of the aqueous matrix and PAC type had a slight impact on precoat filtration. PAC precoat filtration represents a potential pretreatment for photocatalyst removal by micro- or ultrafiltration.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1687-8434
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language English
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
spelling doaj-art-7b99760d1dc24a0ca3af6df5b966d4022025-02-03T06:11:29ZengWileyAdvances in Materials Science and Engineering1687-84341687-84422014-01-01201410.1155/2014/602495602495TiO2 Photocatalyst Nanoparticle Separation: Flocculation in Different Matrices and Use of Powdered Activated Carbon as a Precoat in Low-Cost Fabric FiltrationCarlos F. Liriano-Jorge0Ugur Sohmen1Altan Özkan2Holger Gulyas3Ralf Otterpohl4Institute of Wastewater Management and Water Protection, Hamburg University of Technology, Eissendorfer Straße 42, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Wastewater Management and Water Protection, Hamburg University of Technology, Eissendorfer Straße 42, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Wastewater Management and Water Protection, Hamburg University of Technology, Eissendorfer Straße 42, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Wastewater Management and Water Protection, Hamburg University of Technology, Eissendorfer Straße 42, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Wastewater Management and Water Protection, Hamburg University of Technology, Eissendorfer Straße 42, 21073 Hamburg, GermanySeparation of photocatalyst nanoparticles is a problem impeding widespread application of photocatalytic oxidation. As sedimentation of photocatalyst particles is facilitated by their flocculation, the influence of common constituents of biologically pretreated wastewaters (NaCl, NaHCO3, and their combination with humic acid sodium salt) on flocculation was tested by the pipet method. Results showed that the impact of these substances on TiO2 nanoparticle flocculation is rather complex and strongly affected by pH. When humic acid was present, TiO2 particles did not show efficient flocculation in the neutral and slightly basic pH range. As an alternative to photocatalyst separation by sedimentation, precoat vacuum filtration with powdered activated carbon (PAC) over low-cost spunbond polypropylene fabrics was tested in the presence of two PAC types in aqueous NaCl and NaHCO3 solutions as well as in biologically treated greywater and in secondary municipal effluent. PAC concentrations of ≥2 g/L were required in order to achieve a retention of nearly 95% of the TiO2 nanoparticles on the fabric filter when TiO2 concentration was 1 g/L. Composition of the aqueous matrix and PAC type had a slight impact on precoat filtration. PAC precoat filtration represents a potential pretreatment for photocatalyst removal by micro- or ultrafiltration.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/602495
spellingShingle Carlos F. Liriano-Jorge
Ugur Sohmen
Altan Özkan
Holger Gulyas
Ralf Otterpohl
TiO2 Photocatalyst Nanoparticle Separation: Flocculation in Different Matrices and Use of Powdered Activated Carbon as a Precoat in Low-Cost Fabric Filtration
Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
title TiO2 Photocatalyst Nanoparticle Separation: Flocculation in Different Matrices and Use of Powdered Activated Carbon as a Precoat in Low-Cost Fabric Filtration
title_full TiO2 Photocatalyst Nanoparticle Separation: Flocculation in Different Matrices and Use of Powdered Activated Carbon as a Precoat in Low-Cost Fabric Filtration
title_fullStr TiO2 Photocatalyst Nanoparticle Separation: Flocculation in Different Matrices and Use of Powdered Activated Carbon as a Precoat in Low-Cost Fabric Filtration
title_full_unstemmed TiO2 Photocatalyst Nanoparticle Separation: Flocculation in Different Matrices and Use of Powdered Activated Carbon as a Precoat in Low-Cost Fabric Filtration
title_short TiO2 Photocatalyst Nanoparticle Separation: Flocculation in Different Matrices and Use of Powdered Activated Carbon as a Precoat in Low-Cost Fabric Filtration
title_sort tio2 photocatalyst nanoparticle separation flocculation in different matrices and use of powdered activated carbon as a precoat in low cost fabric filtration
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/602495
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