Scaling up Photoelectrocatalytic Reactors: A TiO[sub.2] Nanotube-Coated Disc Compound Reactor Effectively Degrades Acetaminophen

Multiple discs coated with hierarchically-organized TiO[sub.2] anatase nanotubes served as photoelectrodes in a novel annular photoelectrocatalytic reactor. Electrochemical characterization showed light irradiation enhanced the current response due to photogeneration of charge carriers. The pharmaceutical acetaminophen was used as a representative water micropollutant. The photoelectrocatalysis pseudo-first-order rate constant for acetaminophen was seven orders of magnitude greater than electrocatalytic treatment. Compared against photocatalysis alone, our photoelectrocatalytic reactor at