Photocatalytic oxidation and subsequent adsorption characteristics of humic acids

Effect of TiO₂ photocatalyzed oxidation on the degradation and decolorization of humic acids was studied. The photocatalytic oxidation products were further investigated in terms of adsorptivity on activated carbon. With photocatalytic oxidation in a lab-scale batch reactor significant decolorization and a decrease in UV₂₈₀ and UV₂₅₄ took place. Simultaneously there was a decrease in TOC and COD. Parallel to this an evolution of BOD₅ was observed. Thus the BOD₅/COD ratio increased with irradiation time and more biodegradable substances have been formed. A significant change in the structure of compounds in humic acid took place only after 3-4 hours of irradiation as determined by the decrease in COD/TOC ratio. Generally there was a slight decrease of adsorptivity after irradiation as concluded from the comparison of Freundlich isotherm constants for raw and irradiated humic acid. This decrease increased as the irradiation time increased. But for irradiation times to be used in practice in photocatalytic oxidation no significant change in adsorption is expected.