The application of oscillatory flow mixing to photocatalytic wet oxidation

The photocatalysed mineralisation of methylene blue, a common organic dye, has been carried out in a novel Pulsed Baffled Tube Photochemical Reactor ( PBTPR). The fluid hydrodynamics of the PBTPR is based on oscillatory flow m ixing, which essentially exploits the phenomenon of flow separation resulti ng from fluid flow past sharp edges. The PBTPR has excellent solids handlin g capacity, and is capable of effecting complete dispersion and mixing of t he photocatalyst slurry. The effects of oscillatory flow mixing are reporte d on properties such as adsorption and the reaction rate. A kinetic study h as also been undertaken and kinetic parameters are reported for this system . A catalyst loading of 0.143 g/l has been found to be optimal for this sys tem. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.