Impact of operating conditions on the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals by membrane photocatalytic reactor.

Impact of operating conditions on the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals by membrane photocatalytic reactor.

Environmental technology (2014-06-25)

Raquel López Fernández, Heather M Coleman, Pierre Le-Clech

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the performance of a submerged membrane photocatalytic reactor for the removal of 17beta-oestradiol (E2) in the presence of humic acid (HA). In addition to the impact of operating parameters, such as membrane pore size, ultraviolet (UV) intensity and hydraulic retention time (HRT), the influence of long-term operation was also assessed by advanced characterization of the fouling layer formed on the membrane. The tighter (0.04 microm) hollow fibre polyvinylydene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was found to exhibit not only higher HA removal than the (0.2 microm) module (85% and 75%, respectively), but also greater transmembrane pressure (TMP) values and higher irreversible fouling. Long-term operation conditions have been simulated by conducting an ageing catalyst process and demonstrated a decrease in performance obtained with time. The artificially aged TiO2 resulted in higher TMP values and lower HA removals (about 10-20% decrease) compared with the non-aged catalyst. For E2 removal in the presence of HA, the passive adsorption of the oestrogen onto the organic matter was found to be significant (40% of the E2 adsorbed after I h), demonstrating the importance of the nature of the water matrix for this type of treatment process. An increase in the UV light intensity was observed to favour the E2 elimination, leading to more than 90% removal when using 64 W combined with PVDF membrane and an HRT of 3 h.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

700347

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium(IV) oxide, mixture of rutile and anatase, nanoparticles, <150 nm particle size (volume distribution, DLS), dispersion, 40 wt. % in H₂O, 99.5% trace metals basis

348791

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium, foil, thickness 0.127 mm, 99.7% trace metals basis

266035

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium, wire, diam. 1.0 mm, 99.99% trace metals basis

IRMM531C

Titanium, IRMM^®, certified reference material, 0.5 mm wire

224227

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium(IV) oxide, rutile, powder, <5 μm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

204730

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium(IV) oxide, rutile, 99.995% trace metals basis

204757

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium(IV) oxide, rutile, ≥99.98% trace metals basis

369489

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium, foil, thickness 2.0 mm, 99.7% trace metals basis

267902

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium, wire, diam. 0.81 mm, 99.7% trace metals basis

460400

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium, wire, diam. 0.25 mm, 99.7% trace metals basis

305812

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium, 5-10 mm, ≥99.99% trace metals basis (purity exclusive of Na and K content)

348848

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium, foil, thickness 0.025 mm, 99.98% trace metals basis

E1132

Sigma-Aldrich

β-Estradiol, analytical standard

E2758

Sigma-Aldrich

β-Estradiol, BioReagent, powder, suitable for cell culture

E2257

Sigma-Aldrich

β-Estradiol, powder, γ-irradiated, suitable for cell culture

637262

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium(IV) oxide, rutile, nanopowder, <100 nm particle size, 99.5% trace metals basis

634662

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium(IV) oxide, mixture of rutile and anatase, nanopowder, <100 nm particle size (BET), 99.5% trace metals basis

635057

Sigma-Aldrich

Titanium(IV) oxide, rutile, <001>, (single crystal substrate), ≥99.9% trace metals basis, L × W × thickness 10 mm × 10 mm × 0.5 mm

GF65336700

Titanium, rod, 200mm, diameter 2mm, annealed, 99.6+%

GF76772391

Titanium, rod, 100mm, diameter 10mm, annealed, 99.6+%

GF20882998

Titanium, rod, 200mm, diameter 5mm, annealed, 99.6+%

GF16031843

Titanium, mesh, 100x100mm, nominal aperture 0.19mm, wire diameter 0.23mm, 60x60 wires/inch, open area 20%, twill weave

GF61322699

Titanium, rod, 100mm, diameter 2mm, annealed, 99.6+%

GF66991179

Titanium, rod, 100mm, diameter 2mm, as drawn, 99.99+%

GF58567067

Titanium, rod, 100mm, diameter 5mm, annealed, 99.6+%

GF69259315

Titanium, rod, 500mm, diameter 6mm, annealed, 99.6+%

GF98611623

Titanium, rod, 200mm, diameter 8.0mm, as drawn, 99.99+%

GF13900205

Titanium, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 0.51mm, inside diameter 0.35mm, wall thickness 0.08mm, annealed, 99.6+%

GF49264713

Titanium, tube, 200mm, outside diameter 1.6mm, inside diameter 1.2mm, wall thickness 0.2mm, hard, 99.6+%

GF24976525

Titanium, rod, 200mm, diameter 25mm, annealed, 99.6+%