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Photocatalytic Treatment of Desalination Concentrate Using Optical Fibers Coated With Nanostructured Thin Films: Impact of Water Chemistry and Seasonal Climate Variations
Author(s) -
Lin Lu,
Wang Huiyao,
Luo Hongmei,
Xu Pei
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/php.12589
Subject(s) - desalination , photocatalysis , water desalination , chemical engineering , chemistry , materials science , environmental science , environmental chemistry , nanotechnology , catalysis , organic chemistry , membrane , biochemistry , engineering
Treatment of desalination concentrate can reduce concentrate volume for disposal, increase water recovery and convert waste to resource. However, concentrate treatment is costly and energy intensive due to high concentrations of salt and recalcitrant organic matter in concentrate. Photocatalytic oxidation provides a novel energy neutral technology for concentrate treatment by degrading organic contaminants. Polymer‐assisted hydrothermal deposition method was used to synthesize innovative pure and Fe‐doped TiO 2 mixed‐phase nanocomposite thin films on side‐glowing optical fibers ( SOF s). The properties of the photocatalysts‐coated SOF were characterized by surface morphology, nanostructure, crystallite size and phase and zeta potential. Photodegradation efficiency and durability of the photocatalysts treating different types of desalination concentrate was studied under natural sunlight. Synthetic solutions and reverse osmosis ( RO ) concentrates from brackish water and municipal wastewater desalination facilities were tested to elucidate the impact of water chemistry, operating conditions and seasonal climate variations (solar irradiation intensity and temperature) on photocatalytic efficiency. High ionic strength and divalent electrolyte ions in RO concentrate accelerated photocatalytic process, whereas the presence of carbonate species and organic matter hindered photodegradation. Outdoor testing of immobilized continuous‐flow photoreactors suggested that the catalyst‐coated SOF s can utilize a wide spectrum of natural sunlight and achieved durable photocatalytic performance.