Photocatalytic degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons using TiO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

The paper presents the results of research on the photocatalytic degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wastewater usaing TiO₂ catalyst under the UV lamp. The effects of such parameters as pH, process duration and TiO₂ concentration on the photodegradation rates of most harmful pollutants –phenanthrene (C₁₄H₁₀), chrysene (C₁₈H₁₂ ) and pentacene (C₂₂H₁₄) have been studied. The results indicated that the effect of pH value was negligible at the pH range of 3.0 to 8.0.  The treatment process lasted 180 minutes and the wastewater was analyzed by taking samples every half hour. The results showed that 50-55% (removal of above-mentionedoned compounds from the wastewater can be achieved within 180 minutes through the photocatalytic process using TiO₂ nanoparticles.