Performance Characteristics of a Suspended‐Catalyst Oscillatory Membrane Photocatalytic Reactor

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology 2019-03, Vol.42 (3), p.575-583
• Main Authors: Gomaa, Hassan G., Sabouni, Rana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Computational fluid dynamics; Energy consumption; Membrane; Membranes; Oscillatory motion; Photocatalysis; Sedimentation; Vortex shedding; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201800260

The performance characteristics of an oscillatory membrane photocatalytic reactor were investigated using dye degradation over a suspended ZnO catalyst as a model reaction. Both flat‐surface membranes and ones with transverse turbulence promoters (TP) were used. Application of oscillatory motion can be effective in enhancing the performance of suspended‐catalyst membrane photocatalytic reactors. The eddy formation and vortex shedding when using membranes with TP gave rise to several synergistic effects by providing effective removal of catalyst deposits from the membrane surface, which enhanced the flux and increased the suspended‐catalyst fraction in solution, which consequently enhanced the reaction rate. The effective mixing in the reaction channel minimized particles sedimentation and agglomeration which further enhanced the catalyst suspension and increased its effective reaction area. The specific energy consumption favorably compared to a membrane cross‐flow filtration system. The performance of an oscillatory membrane photocatalytic reactor was studied for both flat‐surface membranes and ones with turbulence promoters (TP). Eddy formation and vortex shedding in case of membranes with TP led to effective removal of catalyst deposits from the membrane surface and increased the suspended‐catalyst fraction in solution, thus enhancing the flux and the reaction rate.