PILOT-PLANT PHOTOMINERALIZATION OF ATRAZINE IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION, BY PHOTOCATALYTIC MEMBRANES IMMOBILISING TITANIUM-DIOXIDE AND PROMOTING PHOTOCATALYSTS

A membrane module, utilizing photocatalytic membranes, has been employ ed in a pilot plant to investigate photomineralization of atrazine as model molecule of chloro-triazine pesticides, at concentrations (0.5-1 0 mu M) simulating those of contaminated aquifers, by using ozone as o xygen supplier. Photocatalytic composite membranes immobilised 30+/-3 wt.% of TiO2. Photomineralization was followed by total organic carbon (TOC) measurements. The influence on rate brought about by co-immobil isation of ethylene-bis(salicylideneiminato)dimethylformamide cobalt(I II)] and of a synergic mixture of tri-(t-butyl)- and tri-(i-propyl)van adate(V), up to 6 wt.% in the membrane, as promoting photocatalysts (m aximum rate factors 1.5 and 10 respectively), was studied.