TiO2-catalyzed photodegradation of methylene blue in a helical FEP tubing reactor: modeling and optimization using response surface methodology

• Published in: Applied water science 2024-09, Vol.14 (9), p.207-12, Article 207
• Main Authors: El-Naggar, M. A., Maghawry, A. H., Alturki, Abdulaziz A., Nosier, S. A., Hussein, M., Abdel-Aziz, M. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anatase TiO2; Aquatic Pollution; Catalysts; Comparative Law; Degradation; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Efficiency; Flow rates; Flow velocity; Fluorinated ethylene propylene; Fluorinated ethylene propylenes; Glass; Hydrogeology; Industrial and Production Engineering; Industrial applications; International & Foreign Law; Methylene blue; Modeling; Nanotechnology; Original Article; pH effects; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Private International Law; Quartz; Radiation dosage; Reactors; Response surface methodology; Silica glass; Titanium dioxide; Tubes; Tubing; Ultraviolet radiation; Waste Water Technology; Water Industry/Water Technologies; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 2190-5487; 2190-5495
• DOI: 10.1007/s13201-024-02205-3

A novel photocatalytic reactor was developed to degrade methylene blue in water using titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) as a catalyst and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) tubing as a transmitter for ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The reactor was operated by continuously flowing the solution through narrow tubes that were exposed to UV radiation. The efficiency of the reactor was evaluated by comparing it to a previous study that used quartz glass tubing. The study also investigated the effects of flow rate, initial concentration, pH, TiO 2 dose and UV radiation without a catalyst on the degradation of methylene blue. The results showed that the FEP tubing was a more efficient UV transmitter than quartz glass. The efficiency of the reactor was also affected by the flow rate and pH of the solution. The highest degradation efficiency was achieved at a flow rate of 10 mL/min and a pH of 7.0. The use of TiO 2 as a catalyst also significantly improved the degradation efficiency, with an almost doubling of the degradation rate when compared to the case without a catalyst. This study demonstrates the potential of the FEP tubing-based photocatalytic reactor for the degradation of methylene blue in water. The reactor is easy to operate and can be scaled up for industrial applications.