WITHDRAWN: Coupling photocatalytic degradation using a green TiO2 catalyst to membrane bioreactor for petroleum refinery wastewater reclamation

Abstract

This work presents an environmentally friendly synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles assisted by microwave, from titanium tetrachloride and water, with potential for the treatment of petroleum refinery effluent. Anatase nanocrystalline particles with a mean crystallite size of 14 nm were obtained according to XRD, TEM and EELS characterization. UF-Permeate from a Membrane Bioreactor treating real refinery effluent was subjected to photodegradation in the presence of the catalyst synthesized under UV-C irradiation. The highest percentages of TOC and TN removals were 32 % and 67 %, respectively, under pH conditions equal to 10 and catalyst concentration of 100 mg L-1 in 90 min of reaction. For this condition electrical energy per order (EE0) calculated were 356.29 KWh m-3 order-1. The catalyst exhibited stability for 4 cycles. The obtained data show that the synthesized catalyst is a promising tool for the removal of residual recalcitrant organic matter of the UF effluent from Membrane Bioreactor contributing to the reduction of fouling in downstream polishing processes as reverse osmosis aiming the industrial water reuse.