Photocatalysis and Water Purification From Fundamentals to Recent Applications

From the fundamentals to recent developments, this book introduces scientists and engineers to photocatalysis and demonstrates its potential for improving water quality. It also points out strategies to increase the photocatalytic efficacy: synthesis of better photocatalysts, combination of photocatalysis with other technologies, and the correct design of photocatalytic reactors. Applications and a chapter on design approaches for photocatalytic reactors round off the book. A must-have read for materials scientists, water chemists, environmental scientists and chemical engineers, whether established researchers or newcomers to the topic.

Professor Pierre Pichat is first class Research Director at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Lyon. He has been active in heterogeneous photocatalysis for more than three decades, and founded the laboratory of "Photocatalyse, Catalyse et Environment" at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon. He has published a great number of research papers and several review articles dealing with photocatalytic reactions and materials.
At the "9th International Conference on TiO2 photocatalysis: fundamentals and applications", held in 2004 in San Diego, he received an Appreciation Award acknowledging his pioneering contributions; this award has been conferred to only three scientists in 20 years.

BACKGROUND. FUNDAMENTALS. MECHANISMS. REACTION. PATHWAYS

A View of the Photocatalyst-Water Interface
Probing the Photocatalyst Surface by Various Techniques and Methodologies
Photoproduced Active Species: Identification;
Roles
Information on Mechanisms and Reaction Pathways Drawn from Kinetics, Probe Molecules, Various Photocatalysts and Photocatalyst modifications

POTENTIALITIES OF PHOTOCATALYSIS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY

Degradation/mineralization of Oganics
Inactivation of Microorganisms
Oxidation/reduction of Noxious Ions
Residual Toxicity of the Photocatalytically Treated Water
Photocatalytic Rates Decreases due to Naturally Occurring Ions and Organic Matter

IMPROVING THE PHOTOCATALYTIC EFFICACY

Various Syntheses of TiO2 Powders and Films. Nanotubes. Nanorods
Various Modifications of TiO2 (Bulk and Surface)
Sensitization of TiO2 to Visible Light
Photocatalysts other than TiO2. Composites
Evaluation of Various Methods of Affixing the Photocatalyst on a Solid Support
Addition of Ozone, Peroxides, another Adsorbent (Activated Carbon;
Carbon Nanotubes;
Zeolites, etc.)
Combination of Photocatalysis with Electrolysis or Ultrasound

PHOTOCATALYTIC REACTORS

Light Distribution: Lamps;
Sun Light
Kinetic Modeling
Design Approaches Depending on the Photocatalyst Form (Powder;
Aggregates;
Type and Shape of Supporting Material)