Enhancing Biodegradability of Dye Wastewater in the Packed-Bed Reactor with the Novel Photocatalyst

The photocatalitic performance of the novel granule TiO₂ photocatalyst G02 in an appropriately packed-bed reactor (PBR) was investigated to increase the biodegradability of dye wastewater (model compound cationic pink FG). The rate constants of the decoloration were found to be direct proportional to the UV light intensity. The FBR photocatalytic decoloration of the dye by G02 can be described by the pseudo first-order kinetic model. The photodecoloration progress was enhanced in basic media and by the addition of hydrogen peroxide. Under optimum operating conditions of irradiation wavelength 254 nm, intensity 25×10² μw/cm², flow rate 60 ml/min, retain time 10 min, 4 mmol/L H₂O₂, and pH=9, the color and TOC removal of effluent reached 94% and 70%, respectively. The results indicated that the excellent activity of the novel photocatalyst G02 coupled with the practicable PBR could enhance the biodegradability of dye wastewater.