Study of photocatalytic decomposition of reactive colorants from textile wastewaters: finite elements numerical modeling and experimental results

Subject Areas : environmental management

Khashayar Badii ¹ , Faramarz Doulati Ardejani ² , Seyed Zia-e-din Shafaei Tonekaboni ³ , Niaz Mohammad Mahmoodi ⁴ , Farrokh Legha Amini ⁵

1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Organic Colorants, Institute for Colorants, Paints and Coatings (ICPC), Tehran, Iran
2 - Associate Professor, Faculty of Mining, Petroleum and Geophysics, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
3 - Associate Professor, Faculty of Mining, Petroleum and Geophysics, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
4 - M.Sc., Department of Organic Colorants, Institute for Colorants, Paints and Coatings (ICPC), Tehran, Iran
5 - M.Sc., Department of Organic Colorants, Institute for Colorants, Paints and Coatings (ICPC), Tehran, Iran

Received: 2007-12-11 Accepted : 2008-03-06 Published : 2009-09-23

Keywords: SEEP/W, CTRN/W, Photocatalytic treatment proce, Numerical Modeling, finite element method, Wastewaters containing coloran, reactive colorants,

Abstract :

Wastewaters containing reactive colorants from different industries can be harmful to the environment. Therefore, it is so important to remove colorants from wastewater before they are discharged into the environment. In this research, a simple mathematical model expanded by finite elements method has been proposed which is capable of simulating the process of colorants removal from industrial wastewaters. The proposed model has been solved by a combination between SEEP/W and CTRN/W software. The model was examined by an example. The example was a study on transportation modeling of a pollutant in a porous media water flow by two analytical and numerical solutions. After the calibration of the model, its results were compared with those of an experimental research for decolorization of Reactive Orange 107 (a Cibacron colorant) by photocatalytical process (UV/TiO2/H2O2) at a batch reactor in laboratory scale. The results showed good prediction by the model. The experimental results showed that Cibacron colorants, such as Reactive Orange 107, would be mineralized by the photocatalytic process (UV/TiO2/H2O2). Although, the production of these types of wastewater is almost unavoidable, a suitable environmental management program can be developed to minimize the effects of these pollutants.