Effect of various oxidants in a photocatalysis/filtration system for the treatment of contaminants

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a photocatalysis/oxidant system for the treatment of humic acid and hazardous heavy metals in aqueous solutions. Hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and potassium peroxodisulfate were tested as oxidants. The effect of oxidant concentration was conducted with a pH of 7, a UV intensity of 64 W, and a TiO₂ dosage of 0.3 g L⁻¹. The oxidant addition in the UV/TiO₂ system enhanced the degradation efficiency of humic acid and hazardous heavy metals compared to no addition of an oxidant. The addition of oxidants over the amounts of H₂O₂ 50 mg L⁻¹, O₃ 20 g m⁻³, and K₂S₂O₈ 50 mg L⁻¹ inhibits the system efficiency. The negative effect of higher oxidant concentrations likely results from OH radical quenching caused by the excess oxidant. Therefore, the optimal dosages of oxidants such as a hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and potassium peroxodisulfate were found to be 50 mg L⁻¹, 20 g m⁻³, and 50 mg L⁻¹, respectively. The degradation efficiency of UV/TiO₂/oxidant systems for the removal of humic acid and hazardous heavy metals was much greater in the UV/TiO₂/H₂O₂ system using H₂O₂ as an oxidant.