Photocatalytic decolorization of azo-dye with zinc oxide powder in an external UV light irradiation slurry photoreactor

Abstract

Photocatalytic decolorization of azo-dye Orange II in water has been examined in an external UV light irradiation slurry photoreactor using zinc oxide (ZnO) as a semiconductor photocatalyst. The effects of process parameters such as light intensity, initial dye concentration, photocatalyst loading and initial solution pH on the decolorization rate of Orange II have been systematically investigated. A two-stage photocatalytic decolorization of Orange II, the first stage of fast decolorization rate and the subsequent second stage of rather slow decolorization rate, was found. The efficiency of decolorization of Orange II increased as initial Orange II concentration decreased and UV light intensity increased. There was the optimal ZnO concentration being around 1000 mg L −1. The optimal pH was around 7.7, which was at the natural pH of the dye solution. The effect of aeration rate on the decolorization of Orange II has been also investigated and the enhancement of decolorization of Orange II with increasing aeration rate was found. By using a model for the light intensity profile in the external UV light irradiation slurry photoreactor, the simulation model for the decolorization of Orange II with ZnO photocatalyst has been developed. The proposed model in which the slow decolorization in the second stage as well as the initial fast decolorization is also taken into account could simulate the experimental results for UV light irradiation satisfactorily. The proposed simulation model in which the change of light intensity with time due to the decolorization of Orange II and the light scatter due to solid photocatalysts are considered will be very useful for practical engineering design of the slurry photoreactor of wastewater including textile dyes.