Major challenges in the development of photocatalytic reactor for water purification

Abstract

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is one of the advanced oxidation technologies for air and water purification treatment and is documented in various references (1-4): It couples low energy ultraviolet (UV) light with semiconductors acting as photocatalysts, overcoming many of the drawbacks that exist for traditional water treatment methods. By using this technology in-situ, degradation of toxic compounds can be achieved both by oxidation (using photogenerated holes to oxidize organics, dyes, surfactants, and pesticides (5) and by reduction (using photogenerated electrons to reduce toxic metal ions (6). © Tall Oaks Publishing, Inc.