Comparison of the photocatalytic efficiencies of continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and batch systems using a dispersed micron sized photocatalyst

Abstract

Photocatalysis is an advanced oxidation process which can be used for water purification. Studies on Plug Flow Reactor (PFR) and Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) systems are imperative if photocatalysis is to be used in large-scale applications. Between them, the CSTR system is an obvious choice for studies, because a series of CSTRs is equivalent to a PFR. However, a CSTR often imposes the use of fixed-bed reactors, which dramatically reduces the efficiency of the process. In this work, a dispersed photocatalyst system was combined with CSTR in order to develop an efficient system for continuous operation. We have overcome the problems of filter blockage, the need for premixing and ca..