NH4+-NH3 removal from simulated wastewater using UV-TiO2 photocatalysis: effect of co-pollutants and pH

Environ Technol. 2010 May;31(6):641-54. doi: 10.1080/09593331003596536.

Abstract

The main objective of the present study was to investigate the efficiency of titanium dioxide (TiO2) assisted photocatalytic degradation (PCD) process for the removal of ammonium-ammonia (NH4(+)-NH3) from the aqueous phase and in the presence of co-pollutants thiosulfate (S2O3(2-)) and p-cresol (C6H4CH3OH) under varying mixed conditions. For the NH4(+)-NH3 only PCD experiments, results showed higher NH4 -NH3 removal at pH 12 compared to pH 7 and 10. For the binary NH4(+)-NH3/S2O3(2-) studies the respective results indicated a significant lowering in NH4(+)-NH3 PCD in the presence of S2O32- at pH 7/12 whereas at pH 10 a marked increase in NH4(+)-NH3 removal transpired. A similar trend was noted for the p-cresol/NH4(+)-NH3 binary system. Comparing findings from the binary (NH4(+)-NH3/S2O3(2-) and p-cresol/NH4(+)-NH3) and tertiary (NH4(+)-NH3/S2O3(2-)/p-cresol) systems, at pH 10, showed fastest NH4(+)-NH3 removal transpiring for the tertiary system as compared to the binary systems, whereas both the binary systems indicated comparable NH4(+)-NH3 removal trends. The respective details have been discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia / chemistry
  • Ammonia / isolation & purification*
  • Ammonia / radiation effects
  • Catalysis
  • Complex Mixtures / chemistry
  • Complex Mixtures / radiation effects
  • Computer Simulation
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Photochemistry / methods*
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / chemistry
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / isolation & purification*
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / radiation effects
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • Titanium / radiation effects
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Complex Mixtures
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • titanium dioxide
  • Ammonia
  • Titanium