Toluene degradation by heterogeneous photocatalysis assisted with ozone in a tubular reactor: analysis over the reactor length.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are atmospheric pollutants that can affect human healthy and intensify some environmental problems. Among different techniques to degrade VOCs, heterogeneous photocatalysis has been highlighted. The aim of this research was to obtain high toluene degradation using heterogeneous photocatalysis in the ozone presence (TiO/O/UV) and analyze VOC degradation over the reactor length comparing with ozone concentration also over the reactor length. Ozone concentration has influence on toluene degradation; 75% of VOC degradation was reached with 69.0 mgL of O meanwhile a degradation of 91% was obtained with 96.2 mgL of O. Toluene degradation reached a plateau over reactor length at flowrate of 565 mL min, which indicates the reactor was oversized in this case. However, it was not observed at 1425 mL min. In addition, it was evaluated that O concentration and toluene reaction rate decreased over the reactor length.