Reusability of ZnO-clay photocatalyst for POMSE treatment via membrane photocatalytic reactor

• Main Authors: Awang, Zarizi, Hairom, Nur Hanis Hayati, Md Noor, Nor Amirah Syamimi, Zakaria, Eilly Nurfazlin, Johari, Mohammad Ruzaini, Abdul Hamid, Nor Hazren, Abu Bakar Sidik, Dilaeleyana, Mohd Nadzim, Ummi Kalsum Hasanah
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
• Online Access: http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/11755/1/P16928_f2f8a3a678396324043625f1ab149c73%207.pdf; http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/11755/; https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0199015

In recent years, photocatalysis, when paired with a variety of different photocatalysts, has emerged as a potentially useful alternative to the traditional therapy of POMSE. However, the majority of photocatalysts that are used are made of materials that cannot be recycled or reused, which severely restricts their applicability in an industrial setting. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the performance of ZnO-clay reusability to treat POMSE by the use of a membrane photocatalytic reactor (MPR) by removing turbidity and reducing colour, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biological oxygen demand (BOD) for each reuse cycle. Infrared spectroscopy with a Fourier transform (FTIR) and Xray diffraction (XRD) were both utilised in the process of characterising the photocatalyst. According to the results of the characterisation, the structure of the ZnO-clay was that of a hexagonal wurtzite. Analysis conducted with FTIR equipment revealed that ZnO-clay contains a number of significant chemical linkages as well. The effectiveness of ZnO's reusability in removing COD and colour was better up to the third cycle, when it began to decline. After that, however, it showed improved performance until the fourth cycle. The amount of turbidity that was removed appeared to be on the rise, although a significant amount of BOD was removed in both the first and the second cycle. This demonstrates that the use of ZnOclay in industrial settings for the photocatalytic treatment of POMSE is possible