Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Publication
    Enhanced photodegradation of phenol by ZnO nanoparticles synthesized through sol-gel method
    ( 2017-12-01)
    Nik Noor Athirah Nik Yusoff
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Wan Fadhilah Khalik
    ;
    Fahmi Ridzwan
    Zinc oxide (ZnO) utilization in advanced oxidation process (AOP) via solar-photocatalytic process was a promising method for alternative treating wastewater containing phenol. The ZnO photocatalyst semiconductor was synthesized by sol-gel method. The morphology of the ZnO nanostructures was observed by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the crystallite phase of the ZnO was confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD). The objective of this study was to synthesis ZnO nanoparticles through a sol-gel method for application as a photocatalyst in the photodegradation of phenol under solar light irradiation. The photodegradation rate of phenol increased with the increasing of ZnO loading from 0.2 until 1.0 g. Only 2 h were required for synthesized ZnO to fully degrade the phenol. The synthesized ZnO are capable to totally degrade high initial concentration up until 45 mg L-1 within 6 h of reaction time. The photodegradation of phenol by ZnO are most favoured under the acidic condition (pH3) where the 100% removal achieved after 2 h of reaction. The mineralization of phenol was monitored through chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction and 92.6% or removal was achieved. This study distinctly utilized natural sunlight as the sole sources of irradiation which safe, inexpensive; to initiate the photocatalyst for degradation of phenol.
      31  1
  • Publication
    Integrated photocatalytic and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treatment system for degradation of phenol
    ( 2017-04-06)
    Nik Noor Athirah Nik Yusoff
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Wan Fadhilah Wan Mohd Khalik
    ;
    Lee Sin Li
    This study will examine the efficiency of the simultaneous photocatalytic and biodegradation process in the same treatment reactor. The sequencing batch reactor or also known as SBR is an effective wastewater treatment method that has been applied widely. SBR system has become an alternative method for industrial wastewater treatment with high concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD), and phenolic compound. In order for the photocatalytic process to occur, ZnO nanoparticles immobilized onto sponge were introduced to the reactor. It was observed that the COD value were decreased, indicated that the simultaneous biodegradation and photodegradation process in functional. The effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the production and composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the physiochemical stability of activated sludge in hybrid growth type SBR were monitored. The percentages of removal are varied with different concentration of ZnO nanoparticles. The highest COD removal recorded is 31.5% with concentration of ZnO 0.6 mg/L. With the present of the ZnO nanoparticles, the degradation of phenol was relatively better than combination of biological of photlysis and biological.
      26  1