PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF LEACHATE USING DATE SEED POWDER AND TITANIUM DIOXIDE AS A PHOTOCATALYST

ABSTRACT

This research investigates the photo-catalytic degradation of leachate using date seed powder and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) as a catalyst. The reaction was carried out both in a photocatalytic reactor and in the dark in order to investigate and compare the influence of adsorption and photo-catalysis on the degradation of leachate under optimal conditions. The degradation efficiency of the leachate in both the photo-catalytic reactor and in the dark reaction were investigated. The raw and treated samples of the leachate were analyzed for COD. The photocatalytic analysis was studied by varying the leachate catalyst dosage from 0.50g/l to 2.5g/l; pH from 4 to 9 and Irradiation time from 30min to 120min. The results obtained showed that 80.82% degradation of the composition of the Leachate as expressed in terms of the COD was achieved in the photo-reaction while 89.9% degradation of the leachate composition was achieved in the dark reaction (adsorption). The optimum values of the process variables for the photo-degradation were; catalyst loading: 1.5g/L, pH: 7.75 and irradiation time: 97.5mins. The optimum values for adsorption were; catalyst loading: 2.5 g/l, pH: 9 and irradiation time: 120mins. Furthermore, an investigation into if it was adsorption or photo catalytic degradation that occurred during the process was carried out.