Solar photocatalytic treatment of gelatin industry effluent: Performance of pilot scale reactor with suspended TiO2 and supported TiO2

Abstract

Degradation of gelatin in the effluent by heterogeneous photocatalysis using suspended and supported TiO₂ in falling film photoreactor under natural solar light has been investigated. Suitable weight proportions of slurry comprising fevicol and home-made TiO₂ have been prepared and the fevicol TiO₂ (F-T) film on acrylic sheet is obtained by brush coating. TiO₂ coating containing 10 wt% fevicol is found to be more adherent and efficient for gelatin degradation. This F-T catalyst in the falling film photoreactor has been tested for the treatment of effluent and its efficiency is compared with suspended homemade TiO₂. The effects of operational parameters such as the amount of TiO₂, effluent concentration, and initial pH on treatment process by F-T coating as well as by suspended TiO₂ slurry have been analyzed. The F-T film is efficient for repeated treatment of effluent when compared to suspended TiO₂. Hence this cost effective solar photocatalytic process is widely applicable at industrial scale.