Novel composite photocatalyst made of TiO(2) nanoparticles.

A novel photocatalyst based on TiO(2) nanoparticles was developed for application in fluidised bed photocatalytic reactors for water treatment. The mechanically robust photocatalyst consists of composite spheres made of TiO(2) nanoparticles and TiO(2) commercial powder. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and specific surface area analysis (BET) were used to characterise the catalyst. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated using model pesticide micro-pollutant. A complete model comprised of radiation, kinetic, and reactor bed models was also developed, allowing for detailed analysis of the photoreactor.