Photo-catalytic Ozonation for Degrading Terephthalic Acid in Aqueous Environment

Background & Aims of the Study: Terfetalic Acid (TPA ) is produced in large quantities and used in various industries. Besides, TPA is among the main sources of water pollution in industrialized countries. TPA photo-degradation process was performed in a Circulating Fluidized Bed Reactor (CFBR) by one Ultraviolet type A (UV-A) lamp and ozone generator with MnFe۲O۴/Willemite photo-catalyst. Materials and Methods: In this research, the nanoparticles of MnFe۲O۴ and Willemite were synthesized by co-precipitation reactions and wet mixing method, respectively. Then MnFe۲O۴/ Willemite was synthesized by the immobilization of MnFe۲O۴ on Willemite by mechanical method. Full factorial experimental design with ۴ factors, including the pH, the initial concentration of TPA, the amount of Catalyst (Cat.), and O۳ dosage was used for modeling and optimizing the process. Results: In the optimal conditions, the amounts of pH, TPA, Cat., and O۳ were obtained equal to ۹, ۲۰ ppm, ۱.۵ g/L, and ۲.۱۷ mg/h, respectively. In these conditions, degradation efficiency was obtained to be ۹۸.۲۶۹۵%, and decomposition kinetics was determined as pseudo-first-order with Kapp=۰.۲۷۰۷ min-۱, kLH=۳.۷۲۹ ppm min-۱, and kadd=۰.۰۵۱ ppm-۱. Conclusion: Comparing experiments results in different processes, such as UV, UV-Cat, O۳, UVO ۳, Cat-O۳, and UV-Cat-O۳ revealed that photo-catalytic ozonation (O۳/MnFe۲O۴/Willemite) in the presence of UV for degradation of TPA in an aqueous environment, present the higher efficiency

Keywords:

Terephetalic acid (TPA) , Fluidized-Bed , Advanced oxidation , Fullfactorial , Decomposition