Application of solar light to removal of ammonia from petrochemical wastewater by nano particles TiO2/Leca photocatalyst

The main objective of this study is to investigate photocatalytic degradation of ammonia, by sunlight/TiO2 photocatalysis from petrochemical wastewater using TiO2 (P-25) coated on Leca granules in two laboratory-scale batch reactors system. Photodegradation of ammonia was compared for two aeration and mixing reactor systems: one system used of submerged diffuser air and another with mechanical agitation. The physicochemical properties of the prepared catalysts were characterized by SEM. Analytical results showed that the morphology, distribution of catalysts was affected by the method of photocatalyst preparation. Also, the obtained results showed similar efficiency of ammonia degradation by TiO2/Leca photocatalyst under sunlight irradiation in two reactor systems. Three days irradiation in the aerated and agitated reactor systems resulted to 96.5 and 96% of ammonia degradation, respectively.