Solar Photocatalytic Reactor Design for the Degradation of Methylene Blue in Water Using Biochar-Supported TiO2-Based Nanocomposites
2023 IEEE 15th International Conference on Humanoid, Nanotechnology, Information Technology, Communication and Control, Environment, and Management (HNICEM)
(2023), pp. 1-6
Mikaela Pauline C. Drapeza
a
,
Jacky Angel A. Jocson
a
,
Sharaine C. Obligado
a
,
Cherish Downer T. Sabandal
a
,
Jenny B. Calot
a
,
Rodelio C. Antonio
a
,
Kevin Lawrence M. De Jesus
a
a Department of Civil Engineering, FEU Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines
Abstract: Water is a resource that all living things require, especially humans. Water contamination is prevalent worldwide due to progress and rapid industrialization. This study aims to conceptualize a low-cost and straightforward to install solar photocatalytic reactor (PCR) prototype for the degradation of Methylene Blue (DMB), one of the contaminants released into water resources, with the aid of Biochar and Titanium Dioxide as nano catalysts and assess its efficiency. A 3mL sample was collected before the start of the experiment, another 3mL sample from an unilluminated setting, and a 3mL sample at the end of the 2-hour photocatalytic investigation. The samples were processed and observed from an external laboratory. Results showed a 90.53% adsorption efficiency rate, a 1.1% and 9.9% difference from another study that utilized the same contaminant and time duration, and a 0.0196/min degradation rate. Based on this result, it was assessed that the proposed photoreactor was solar adsorption efficient and had a photodegradation potential to reduce the Methylene Blue (MB) contaminant.