Insertion of nanomaterials in photocatalytic reactors

The photocatalytic properties of TiO ₂ previously described enable the development of wastewater treatment processes. For this purpose, a photocatalytic reactor must be designed. Photocatalytic reactors differ from conventional catalytic (or thermocatalytic) reactors due to the irradiation that activates the catalyst. The role of the reactor is to simultaneously bring wastewater, oxygen, UV light and the photocatalyst into contact. The design of the photocatalytic reactor involves taking into account parameters such as immobilization and irradiation of the photocatalyst, flow rate and concentration of wastewater and oxygen, lamp cooling and protection, and electrical circuitry. The proposed final design of the photocatalytic reactor will depend on these parameters.

In the photoreactor, the photocatalytic powder must...