Thin wetted film cylindrical flow photo reactor for the degradation of Procion blue H-B dye over TiO2 and ZnO.

A thin wetted film cylindrical flow reactor was fabricated for photocatalytic oxidation of Procion blue H-B dye in textile washwater with the suspensions of TiO2 and ZnO. The disappearance of colour and organic reduction were studied in terms of the removal of colour and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Operating parameters such as effect of pH, UV irradiation with and without catalyst, initial concentration of dye and effect of flow rate were studied and kinetics of Procion blue H-B dye has been studied over TiO2 and ZnO surfaces. Since adsorption is the prerequisite condition for decolorization/degradation of dye molecules in the presence of heterogeneous catalysis, the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were examined to verify the adsorption intensity. The results clearly demonstrated that, the optimum loading of the photocatalyst was found to be 300 and 400 mg/L of TiO2 and ZnO, respectively. The maximum COD reduction efficiency was 68% for TiO2 and 58% for ZnO. On the other hand, the colour removal efficiency was found to be 74% and 69%, respectively for TiO2- and ZnO-assisted systems under optimum conditions. Conclusively, these two semiconductors could degrade Procion blue H-B dye at different time intervals and both isotherms fit well.