Photocatalytic Degradation of Total Organic Carbon in Water by under UV Irradiation on Graphene Oxide

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of the using UV irradiation on Graphene oxide (UV/GO) for the degradation of total organic carbon (TOC) from water. The experiments were carried out with various experimental conditions such as pH (3, 5 and 9), dosage of Graphene Oxide (GO)(0.2,0.4,0.6 and 0.8 g/L-1), concentration of Humic acid (HA)(0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 g/L), irradiation time (15, 30, 45 and 60 min) and UV intensity (4W and 8W) and optimized for the maximum removal of HA. The equilibrium adsorption data and the model parameters were evaluated. Based on the experimental data obtained in a lab-scale batch study, the theoretical efficiency of HA removal, under the optimum oxidation conditions (pH: 3, irradiation time: 45 min, catalyst dosage: 0.4g/L-1, UV: 8W and initial HA concentration: 3 g/L-1) was 71%. The isotherm study indicates that adsorption data fit well with the Langmuir model and Pseudo second-order kinetics. This study clearly indicated that GO/UV photo catalyst reactor is a cost effective and simple alternative method for degradation of HA from water.