Modelling of a photocatalytic reactor with a fixed bed of supported catalyst

This work intends to develop a mathematical model of a fixed bed reactor an d tests this model with experimental data. For this reason, we introduce so me specific knowledge about light absorption from the catalyst, about the h ydrodynamic interpretation of the reactor and the kinetic behaviour of phot ocatalytic reactions. Afterwards, we summarise this information and set up a complex mathematical model. We use this model in order to identify the ki netic constants of some reactions. We also formulate some simplified models to be used in particular circumstances and we compare the results of the c omplex model and the simplified models. Moreover, we compare experimental d ata of conversion and the results estimated with our model. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.