Treatment of chlorinated solvents by TiO2 photocatalysis and photo-Fenton: influence of operating conditions in a solar pilot plant

Titanium dioxide photocatalysis (using 200 mg l−1 of TiO2), under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and photo-Fenton (2 and 56 mg l−1 iron) were applied to the treatment of different NBCS (non-biodegradable chlorinated solvents), such as dichloroethane, dichloromethane and trichloromethane dissolved in water at 50 mg l−1. All the tests were performed in a 35-l solar pilot plant with compound parabolic collectors (CPCs) under natural illumination. The two solar treatments were compared with attention to chloride release and TOC mineralisation, as the main parameters. Photo-Fenton was found to be the more appropriate treatment for these compounds, assuming volatilisation as a drawback of photocatalytic degradation of NBCS dissolved in water. In this context, several operating parameters related to NBCS degradation, e.g., treatment time, temperature, hydrogen peroxide consumption and volatility of parent compounds are discussed. The correct choice of operating conditions can very often diminish the problem of volatilisation during treatment.