Experimental Modeling for ZnO/Charcoal Photocatalytic Degradation of Petrochemical Ammonia Wastewater

This paper aims to investigate the capability of floatable ZnO/Charcoal composite in degrading real ammonia wastewater from urea fertilizer petrochemical plants. The hybrid photocatalyst was synthesized by impregnation method and characterized by FESEM and XRD analyses. The results of analyses showed the suitable dispersion of ZnO over the support surface Also, the FESEM analysis confirmed the good features of the charcoal as either support or adsorbent. ۱۰ wt.% commercial ZnO nanoparticles were immobilized on pieces of the carbonized wood by impregnation. Box-Behnken experimental design method was used to optimize the experimental conditions of photocatalytic removal of ammonia from synthetic wastewater by ZnO/Charcoal photocatalyst. Three parameters of pH, catalyst dosage, and light intensity were selected as independent variables affecting the decontamination of the petrochemical wastewater. The optimum conditions were founded to be pH ۹, catalyst dosage of ۲ g/L and light intensity of ۲۵۰ W.

Keywords:

Box-Behnken , Ammonia Wastewater , Photocatalyst , ZnO , Charcoal