APPLIED STUDIES ON IMMOBILIZED TITANIUM-DIOXIDE FILMS AS CATALYSTS FOR THE PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL DETOXIFICATION OF WATER

Preliminary results are presented on the photochemical and photoelectr ochemical degradation of aqueous organic solutions by anodic, thermal and sol-gel TiO2 films. The films were tested in a photochemical falli ng film reactor, and a photochemical/photoelectrochemical vortex react or, and preliminary results are presented on the degradation of a rang e of model organics using these reactors. The former showed the best m ass transport characteristics and most efficient light usage, whilst t he latter reactor clearly showed the efficacy of the electric field en hancement effect. The results on the vortex reactor effectively repres ent a proof-of-concept of the electric field enhancement approach in l arge scale photoelectrochemical reactors. From time to time it is nece ssary to recoat the substrates, and the importance of the procedure ad opted to remove 'old' TiO2 films prior to the fabrication of 'new' fil ms is highlighted, as well as the mode of operation of the sol-gel fil ms, and problems encountered in reactor design.