MATHEMATICAL-MODEL OF A PHOTOCATALYTIC FIBEROPTIC CABLE REACTOR FOR HETEROGENEOUS PHOTOCATALYSIS

A basic mathematical model to describe the degradation of a single com pound in a fiber-optic bundled array photocatalytic batch reactor (OFR ) using a Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic expression is developed. An emp irical global quantum efficiency, phi(global), that incorporates react ion parameters such as the absorbed light intensity, intrinsic rate co nstants, concentration of adsorbed reactants, and reaction intermediat es is used as a fitting parameter. An empirical term to describe the r adiation field within the coated fiber is derived experimentally and n ormalized by the photocatalyst particle concentration within the fiber optic coating to account for the inverse relationship observed betwee n absorbed light intensity and reaction quantum efficiency. Results of the mathematical model are compared to experimental data generated in an OFR for the photocatalytic oxidation of 4-chlorophenol (4CP), pent achlorophenol (PCP), and dichloroacetate (DCA). The global quantum eff iciency, phi(global), was found to be independent of absorbed light in tensity. Calculated kinetic profiles are in excellent agreement with e xperimental observation.