Enhancement of photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen contained in water using a static mixer

In this work, an experimental study on the influence of hydrodynamic conditions on the total degradation process of ibuprofen dissolved in water has been carried out. A comparative analysis of the use of TiO2 in suspension under different operating conditions has been performed using a static mixer to increase the agitation regime of the fluid inside a tubular reactor. The ibuprofen degradation level and carbon concentration were measured by means UV spectroscopy and TOC, respectively. On the other hand, the particle image velocimetry technique has been used to characterize the flow behavior. The presence of the static mixer produced high perturbations on the water flow, increasing the mixing rate of the generated OH. radicals in the solution as well as the contact of the suspended TiO2 particles with the contaminated water. A combination of the static mixer at the lowest flow rate increased the residence time in the radiated region resulting in the highest degradation rates. Additionally, the turbulent intensity played an important role on the intensification and improvement of the degradation activity, then it should be considered as key performance parameter of tubular reactors. (C) 2020 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.