Photocatalytic Decomposition of low-concentrated Trichloroethylene and Tetrachloroethylene in Water

The photocatalytic decomposition of trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in water was studied. TCE and PCE were present in water at very low concentrations of about 15 µg/dm3. This concentration level corresponds to the one occasionally occurring in groundwater. Results of this research confirmed usefulness of the photocatalytic process for successful removal of low-concentrated TCE and PCE from water. Removal of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene from water can be achieved by application of the photocatalytic process over titanium dioxide. It was confirmed that both suspended and immobilized modes of the photocatalytic process give comparable results. Therefore it is recommended to employ the immobilized system as more beneficial from the economical point of view. Presented studies revealed that very low amounts of TCE and PCE can be removed from water using the photocatalytic process. This method could be than applied for purification of groundwater occasionally polluted with the small amounts of TCE and PCE.