Photocatalytic treatment of combined wastewater from Jatropha biodiesel production using lahar- immobilized titanium dioxide

Date

2011

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Manolito E. Bambase, Jr.

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Abstract

The study focused on the photocatalytic oxidation of biodiesel wastewater using lahar-immobilized titanium dioxide as photocatalyst. The study determined the effect of different organic loadings and the effect of addition of varying amounts of hydrogen peroxide on the COD reduction of wastewater. The effect of using direct sunlight versus artificial UV light as a source of UV radiation in the efficiency of the Photocatalysis was also compared. Boil disposition process was employed in immobilization of titanium dioxide on the surface of lahar. It was found out that lahar was a promising immobilization medium to TiO₂ because 300g of lahar was capable of absorbing an average of 1.99g of TiO₂ giving an average percent immobilization of 39.78%. Treatments using different organic loadings showed that % COD reduction was higher in the wastewater with low initial COD. Photocatalysis is considered as a tertiary treatment thus, it is ,more effective in degrading organic compounds with low initial COD. Addition of different amounts of H₂O₂ resulted to the release and decrease of photocatalytic efficiency. Hence, it was observed that there was only certain range where H₂O₂ could enhance photodegradation. However, the optimum concentration where H₂O₂ improves photocatalysis was not studied. It was found out those treatments under UV fluorescent light attained higher COD reduction than treatments under solar radiation. However,statistical results showed that there is no significant difference between the two sources of UV radiation. Although the wastewater from biodiesel production contains highly organic compounds such as glycerol and methanol, a maximum of 35.5% COD reduction was only achieved. This can be attributed to the type and design of the photocatalytic reactor used; no supply of oxygen which is necessary for the inhibition of electron-hole recombination; and partial oxidation of the waste due to short irradiation time. The study focused on the photocatalytic oxidation of biodiesel wastewater using lahar-immobilized titanium dioxide as photocatalyst. The study determined the effect of different organic loadings and the effect of addition of varying amounts of hydrogen peroxide on the COD reduction of wastewater. The effect of using direct sunlight versus artificial UV light as a source of UV radiation in the efficiency of the Photocatalysis was also compared. Boil disposition process was employed in immobilization of titanium dioxide on the surface of lahar. It was found out that lahar was a promising immobilization medium to TiO₂ because 300g of lahar was capable of absorbing an average of 1.99g of TiO₂ giving an average percent immobilization of 39.78%. Treatments using different organic loadings showed that % COD reduction was higher in the wastewater with low initial COD. Photocatalysis is considered as a tertiary treatment thus, it is ,more effective in degrading organic compounds with low initial COD. Addition of different amounts of H₂O₂ resulted to the release and decrease of photocatalytic efficiency. Hence, it was observed that there was only certain range where H₂O₂ could enhance photodegradation. However, the optimum concentration where H₂O₂ improves photocatalysis was not studied. It was found out those treatments under UV fluorescent light attained higher COD reduction than treatments under solar radiation. However,statistical results showed that there is no significant difference between the two sources of UV radiation. Although the wastewater from biodiesel production contains highly organic compounds such as glycerol and methanol, a maximum of 35.5% COD reduction was only achieved. This can be attributed to the type and design of the photocatalytic reactor used; no supply of oxygen which is necessary for the inhibition of electron-hole recombination; and partial oxidation of the waste due to short irradiation time.

Language

English

LC Subject

Lahar Biodiesel fuels, Land treatment of wastewater, Wastewater, Jatropha

Call Number

LG 993.5 2011 E62 C34

Document Type

Thesis

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