Journal of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Solar Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol Using Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Shells as Adsorbent
Ini-Ibehe N. Etim, Peter C. Okafor, Rebecca A. Etiuma, Clement O. Obadimu

Abstract
Cocosnucifera (coconut) shell powder was used as the adsorbents for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions. Degradation efficiency has been evaluated using photocatalysis and adsorption processes at ambient temperature. Photolysis was performed to study the effect of light on the degradation of phenol at ambient temperature while adsorption process was carried out without utilizing solar illumination. Effect of initial concentrations of phenol (50, 75, 100 and 150 mg/l), TiO2 loading (4, 8, 16 and 20 %), and composite mass (adsorbent + TiO2) (1, 3, 5 and 8 g) were investigated using UV-Visible spectrophotometric technique. The results obtained indicate that phenol removal increases with time and concentration of the catalyst (TiO2) and decreases with increase in initial concentration of phenol and composite mass. Combination of UV irradiation with TiO2 loading gave a degradation efficiency ranging from 78.36 - 82.76 % while UV irradiation with composite (catalyst- Cocosnucifera) mass gave a degradation efficiency ranging from 63.12 - 79.32 %. The efficiency of the processes of degradation of phenol followed the trend: photocatalysis>photolysis> adsorption. The kinetics studies of the degradation fitted the Langmuir and pseudo-second–order models.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jcb.v3n1a3