Title: Air pollution from air stripping of industrial VOCs: a mitigating alternative using renewable energy

Authors: Krishpersad Manohar, Dale Ramlakhan

Addresses: Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Department, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies. ' Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Department, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies

Abstract: Four reaction beds (glass, Plexiglas, concrete and metal) exposed to solar (UV) light and coated with titanium dioxide were used for testing the degradation of Dichloroacetic Acid (DCA) in water, with concentrations of 130 ppmv, 390 ppmv and 650 ppmv. The glass-bed reactor showed the highest photonic efficiency followed by Plexiglas, concrete and metal. The 390-ppmv DCA gave the highest rate of degradation with photonic efficiency of 10.5%, 8.2%, 7.0% and 1.5% for the glass, Plexiglas, concrete and metal reaction bed, respectively. The glass-bed reactor produced complete degradation to chlorides within 1 h of exposure at all three concentrations.

Keywords: air pollution; solar detoxification; photodegradation; titanium dioxide; dichloroacetic acid; DCA degradation; photonic efficiency; air quality; glass; Plexiglas; concrete; metal; renewable energy; industrial VOCs; volatile organic compounds; ultraviolet light.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2009.026885

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2009 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.75 - 84

Published online: 28 Jun 2009 *

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