Photocatalytic oxidation technology for humic acid removal using a nano-structured TiO2/Fe2O3 catalyst

A novel TiO2 coated haematite photocatalyst was prepared and used for removal of colored humic acids from wastewater in an UV bubble photocatalytic reactor. XRD analysis confirmed that nano-size anatase crystals of TiO2 were formed after calcination at 480 degrees C. SEM results revealed that nano-size particles of TiO2 were uniformly coated on the surface of Fe2O3 to form a bulk of nano-structured photocatalyst Fe2O3/TiO2. The porous catalyst had a BET surface area of 168 m2/g. Both the color and total organic carbon (TOC) conversion versus the residence time were measured at various conditions. The effects of pH value, catalyst loaded, initial humic acid concentration and reaction temperature on conversion were monitored. The experimental results proved that the photocatalytic oxidation process was not temperature sensitive and the optimum catalyst loading was found to be 0.4 g/l. Degradation and decolorization of humic acids have higher efficiency in acidic medium and at low initial humic acid concentration. The new catalyst was effective in removing TOC at 61.58% and color400 at 93.25% at 180 minutes illumination time and for 20 mg/l neutral humic acid aqueous solution. The kinetic analysis showed thatthe rate of photocatalytic degradation of humic acids obeyed the first order reaction kinetics.