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Response surface optimization of the photocatalytic degradation of atenolol using immobilized graphene‐TiO 2 composite
Author(s) -
Bhatia Vibhu,
Manoli Kyriakos,
Dhir Amit,
Ray Ajay K.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.23754
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , graphene , materials science , degradation (telecommunications) , light intensity , reaction rate constant , chemical engineering , composite number , central composite design , slurry , atenolol , nuclear chemistry , kinetics , response surface methodology , nanotechnology , chemistry , chromatography , composite material , catalysis , organic chemistry , optics , medicine , telecommunications , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics , computer science , blood pressure , radiology
Photocatalytic processes using semiconductors have been widely explored due to their fascinating benefits in environmental remediation. In this study, a four‐factor three‐level Box‐Benkhen design (BBD) was employed to assess the photocatalytic degradation of atenolol (ATL) using immobilized graphene‐TiO 2 as a photocatalyst. The four variables that were considered in the BBD model were the photocatalyst concentration (10%‐20%), pH (4‐9), ATL concentration (10‐30 mg/L), and light intensity (60‐260 W/m 2 ). A monolithic‐type swirl‐flow reactor, which allowed the immobilization of the photocatalyst, was employed in a semi‐batch system to study the photocatalytic degradation kinetics of ATL. The optimum conditions where the highest rate constant (0.667 min −1 ) was observed were graphene‐TiO 2 concentration of 10%, pH of 6.5, ATL concentration of 30 mg/L, and light intensity of 160 W/m 2 . The developed model well predicted the observed values indicated by a high R 2 of 0.897. Reaction rate constants obtained herein using graphene‐TiO 2 in immobilized form were compared with slurry system and TiO 2 .