Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue
Investigated the effect of hydrogen peroxide concentration on photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using TiO₂ catalyst and UV light. Applied Beer-Lambert law and pseudo-first-order kinetics to quantify reaction rates and optimize oxidizer concentration for enhanced pollutant removal efficiency.
Technical Skills Demonstrated
Photocatalytic Reactor Operation
- UV photocatalytic reactor setup and operation
- TiO₂ catalyst handling and optimization
- Methylene blue solution preparation (10 ppm)
- H₂O₂ concentration variation (0-2 mL)
Analytical Chemistry
- UV-Vis spectrophotometry for concentration analysis
- Beer-Lambert law calibration curve development
- Real-time absorbance monitoring (5-min intervals)
- Spectrophotometric uncertainty quantification
Reaction Kinetics Analysis
- Pseudo-first-order kinetic modeling
- Apparent rate constant determination
- Linear regression analysis of ln(C/C₀) vs time
- Rate constant uncertainty propagation
Experimental Problem-Solving
- Identified catalyst degradation issues
- Data separation by reactor performance
- Error source analysis and mitigation
- Equipment condition assessment
Key Experimental Results
0.0797 s⁻¹
Maximum Rate Constant
Achieved with 2 mL H₂O₂ addition in functional reactor system
4 Conditions
H₂O₂ Concentrations
Tested 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mL H₂O₂ to establish concentration effect
95% CI
Statistical Confidence
Applied rigorous uncertainty analysis to rate constant determination
Engineering Insights: The research confirmed that increasing H₂O₂ concentration enhances photocatalytic degradation rates by generating additional hydroxyl radicals. However, the study revealed critical equipment factors affecting results - degraded TiO₂ pellets significantly reduced catalyst effectiveness. This experience demonstrates the importance of catalyst condition monitoring and systematic error analysis in photocatalytic water treatment applications.
Complete Research Report
Detailed methodology, kinetic analysis, and experimental troubleshooting