Investigation of Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol by UV/TiO2 Process in Aquatic Solutions

The main objective of this research was to study photocatalytic oxidation of phenol inaquatic solutions by using of uv, tio2 and the combination of them. phenol compounds are widelyused in industries and other daily life. highly toxicity and carcinogenicity of these compounds cancausal considerable adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystems and human health.methods: the study was an experimental research and carried out by phenol 100 mg l-1 solution andcontact time, ph and amount of tio2 were considered in photocatalytic system as the basic variablesaffecting removal efficiencies. phenol concentration in inlet and outlet samples was detected by spectrophotometeryat 500nm.results: combination of uv and tio2 can cause higher efficiencies of phenol removal. the removalefficiencies of uv, tio2 and uv/tio2 photocatalytic oxidation system with various operation conditionshad a range of 1.8%-19.64%, 2.38%-17.8% and 34.65%-82.91%, respectively. it was found thatincreasing of tio2 concentration and contact time and ph , increasing the amount of phenol that oxidizedin combined system and maximum removal coefficients obtained in ph=11 , 9 h contact timeand 0.2 gr of tio2.conclusion: combinated uv/tio2 process may be applied as an effective process for the removal ofphenol from aquatic solutions such as industrial wastewaters and polluted water resources.