Degradation of 1,2-Dichloroethane in Simulated Wastewater Solution: A Comprehensive Study by Photocatalysis Using TiO2 and ZnO Nanoparticles

The degradation of 1,2-DCA in simulated wastewater solution was studied by photocatalysis and its overall efficiency was compared with that of two conventional advanced oxidation processes, UV and H2O2/UV methods. The parameters affecting oxidation processes such as the initial concentration of 1,2-DCA, volume of H2O2, photocatalyst loading, UV intensity, and pH were evaluated with respect to the final results obtained. It was found that with the UV method just 55% of 1,2-DCA was removed after 6 h under 40W UV radiation, but with the H2O2/UV method the removal reached 88% for a similar length of time and radiation intensity. In the latter method, the optimum molar ratio for H2O2/1,2-DCA was 0.0051. TiO2 nanoparticles, as photocatalysts, performed more effectively than ZnO nanoparticles. The removal of 1,2-DCA reached 90% under the same conditions using the TiO2/UV method. To sum up, the TiO2/UV method was found to be the best method for degradation of 1,2-DCA under the optimum conditions of 200 ppm initial concentration of 1,2-DCA and 100mg/L TiO2 at pH 7 and higher.