Simple design and preliminary evaluation of continuous submerged solid small-scale laboratory photoreactor (CS4PR) using TiO2/NO3-@TC for dye degradation

A Continuous Submerged Solid Small-Scale Laboratory Photoreactor (CS4PR) using TiO2/NO3− coating on the surface of TC material (TiO2/NO3−@TC) as a catalyst material for RhB degradation, can act as reduction and oxidation cocatalysts and in the single plate catalyst it can increase degradation efficiency of RhB up to 78.06% from aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. [Display omitted] •Development of photoreactor based on UV-light irradiation for dye degradation.•TiO2 coating on traditional ceramic material as a new photocatalyst material.•RhB was degraded effectively by adding SO4−2 as a supporting ion.•Photodegradation mechanism of RhB was discussed. In this paper, we report a development of small-scale laboratory photocatalytic reactor to degrade dyes, namely Continuous Submerged Solid Small-Scale Laboratory Photoreactor (CS4PR). To achieve this target, the material of TiO2/NO3− as a catalyst material in this photoreactor was selected. Then, it was coated onto traditional ceramic (TC) surface to form (TiO2/NO3−@TC) by using dip and spin-coating methods. Furthermore, the powder of TiO2/NO3− was characterized by Fourier transform infra red (FTIR), Scanning electronic microscopy-Energy disperse X-ray (SEM-EDX) and Ultra violet-visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. In this research, rhodamine B (RhB) was chosen as a sample model to examine the photodegradation efficiency of photoreactor. The photodegradation of RhB was analyzed by LC–MS. Accordong to the analysis data, the best coating of TiO2/NO3− and sulfate concetration is at 8 times and 500 mg.L-1, respectively, with photodegradation rate constant and RhB degradation efficiency are 0.0149 per minute and 78.06%, respectively. From our research to realize 100% of RhB degradation, the ratio of catalyst plate, sulfate ion concentration and sample volume is 9 : 500 ppm : 500 mL/5 mg.L-1 of RhB. Based on LC–MS spectrum, it demonstrated that 29 intermediate compounds of RhB degraded before reaching their mineralization product.