UVMWREACT · Design, fabrication and optimization of a novel integrated UV-microwave assisted catalytic reactor for the continuous flow treatment of wastewater

Design, fabrication and optimization of a novel integrated UV-microwave assisted catalytic reactor for the continuous flow treatment of wastewater

We developed an environmentally-friendly, totally innovative method for the treatment of toxic and recalcitrant contaminants in wastewater by enhancing the rate of a novel heterogeneous catalytic treatment process using microwave energy and ultraviolet radiation. It provides a solution to the as yet unmet challenge of using microwaves to treat large flows by an innovative novel reactor design that is scalable to meet the demands of industry. To this day many wastewater streams containing toxic and recalcitrant pollutants in developed as well as developing countries are treated only by dilution. Individual treatment technologies are not effective in removing these recalcitrant pollutants owing to their toxicity, shock loads, selectivity and slow reaction rates. The effective integration of various treatment technologies, such us advanced oxidation processes, microwave and UV irradiation, is therefore the way forward. In recent years, several reports have demonstrated the use of microwave and ultraviolet radiation to promote the oxidative degradation of bio-refractory wastes due to their advantages of speeding up the reaction, high-efficiency with no pollution to the environment. Nevertheless the use of microwaves in catalysis and in the water and wastewater industry remains at laboratory scale. The major challenges in the water/wastewater industries are centered on the poor penetration depth of microwaves which restricts the dimensions of reactors. The overall objectives of the action were as follows: (i) to develop a principle of scaling of a microwave and UV assisted reactors up to dimensions required in industry and (ii) to build a reactor which proves this principle. In the project, we proposed a principle of scaling, numerically simulated different designs of the reactors based on this principle and built a novel UV and microwave assisted reactor with 3 microwave ports (sections) and variable UV flux. Conclusion of the action: The proposed, designed and developed microwave and UV assisted reactor can be used for treatment of wide range of wastewaters: pharmaceutical, agricultural, wastewater from fracking, etc. Potential scaling-up of the reactor would essentially broaden the number of potential users of this promising wastewater treatment technology.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union