Integrated design of microwave and photocatalytic reactors. Where are we now

Despite many potential advantages, catalytic reactors utilizing electromagnetic energy, such as light or microwaves, lack significant commercial applications. One of the main reasons for this situation is the fact that current microwave and photocatalytic reactor designs suffer from a poor definition of the field geometry and intensity, as well as its interaction with the catalytic material or the processed medium. The present opinion paper discuses those elements of the reactor design, which have not been sufficiently addressed so far. The development of novel integrated reactor concepts should be in continuous dialog with reliable control and design models. Both activities should be supported by instrumentation development to measure electromagnetic field under real process conditions, at relevant spatial and temporal scales.

[1]  F. Taghipour,et al.  Irradiance modeling in annular photoreactors using the finite-volume method , 2010 .

[2]  Tom Van Gerven,et al.  A review of intensification of photocatalytic processes , 2007 .

[3]  M. Tadé,et al.  Simulations of photodegradation of toluene and formaldehyde in a monolith reactor using computational fluid dynamics , 2011 .

[4]  S. Horikoshi,et al.  Environmental remediation by an integrated microwave/ UV-illumination method. 1. Microwave-assisted degradation of rhodamine-B dye in aqueous TiO2 dispersions. , 2002, Environmental science & technology.

[5]  R. L. Pozzo,et al.  Photocatalytic oxidation of oxalic acid in dilute aqueous solution, in a fully illuminated fluidized bed reactor , 2010 .

[6]  H. Irazoqui,et al.  Modeling of a multiannular photocatalytic reactor for perchloroethylene degradation in air , 2006 .

[7]  V. Církva,et al.  Microwave Photochemistry and Photocatalysis. Part 1: Principles and Overview , 2011 .

[8]  R. Grieken,et al.  Intrinsic kinetic modeling with explicit radiation absorption effects of the photocatalytic oxidation of cyanide with TiO2 and silica-supported TiO2 suspensions , 2008 .

[9]  Guido Sturm,et al.  A helicopter view of microwave application to chemical processes: reactions, separations, and equipment concepts , 2014 .

[10]  O. Alfano,et al.  Absolute quantum yields in photocatalytic slurry reactors , 2003 .

[11]  V. Církva,et al.  Microwave photocatalysis II: novel continuous-flow microwave photocatalytic experimental set-up with titania-coated mercury electrodeless discharge lamps , 2009 .

[12]  V. Církva,et al.  Microwave photocatalysis IV: Effects of additional operational parameters on the microwave photocatalytic degradation of mono‐chloroacetic acid using titania‐coated mercury electrodeless discharge lamps , 2013 .

[13]  C. Leonelli,et al.  Microwave and ultrasonic processing: Now a realistic option for industry , 2010 .

[14]  G. Raupp,et al.  Monte Carlo simulation of the radiation field in a reticulated foam photocatalytic reactor , 1999 .

[15]  Martin D. Verweij,et al.  Microwaves and microreactors: Design challenges and remedies , 2014 .

[16]  Shicheng Zhang,et al.  CFD modeling of a UV-LED photocatalytic odor abatement process in a continuous reactor. , 2012, Journal of hazardous materials.

[17]  Robert F. Mudde,et al.  Bubbles scatter light, yet that does not hurt the performance of bubbly slurry photocatalytic reactors , 2013 .

[18]  C. R. Howarth,et al.  The spinning disc reactor--studies on a novel TiO2 photocatalytic reactor. , 2001, Chemosphere.

[19]  Daniel H. Chen,et al.  Oxidation of PCE with a UV LED Photocatalytic Reactor , 2005 .

[20]  Jong Kyu Kim,et al.  Solid-State Light Sources Getting Smart , 2005, Science.

[21]  P. Pichat,et al.  Modeling and optimizing irradiance on planar, folded, and honeycomb shapes to maximize photocatalytic air purification , 2007 .

[22]  A. Stankiewicz,et al.  Reactors using alternative energy forms for green synthetic routes and new functional products , 2010 .

[23]  G. L. Puma,et al.  Radiation field optimization in photocatalytic monolith reactors for air treatment , 2007 .

[24]  Roger Gorges,et al.  Photocatalysis in microreactors , 2004 .

[25]  Intensification of gas-phase photoxidative dehydrogenation of ethanol to acetaldehyde by using phosphors as light carriers. , 2011, Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology.

[26]  G. L. Puma,et al.  Radiation field modeling and optimization of a compact and modular multi-plate photocatalytic reactor (MPPR) for air/water purification by Monte Carlo method , 2013 .

[27]  R. Grieken,et al.  Scaling-up of slurry reactors for the photocatalytic oxidation of cyanide with TiO2 and silica-supported TiO2 suspensions , 2009 .

[28]  C. Oliver Kappe,et al.  Controlled microwave heating in modern organic synthesis: highlights from the 2004–2008 literature , 2009, Molecular Diversity.

[29]  S. Horikoshi,et al.  Environmental remediation by an integrated microwave/UV illumination method. V. Thermal and nonthermal effects of microwave radiation on the photocatalyst and on the photodegradation of rhodamine-B under UV/Vis radiation. , 2003, Environmental science & technology.

[30]  A mathematical model to describe the photocatalytic reality: What is the probability that a photon does its job? , 2013 .

[31]  A. I. Stankiewicz,et al.  Energy Matters: Alternative Sources and Forms of Energy for Intensification of Chemical and Biochemical Processes , 2006 .

[32]  S. Mozia.  Photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs) in water and wastewater treatment. A review , 2010 .

[33]  George H. Brown,et al.  Theory and application of radio-frequency heating , 1947 .

[34]  Peter K. J. Robertson,et al.  Effect of controlled periodic-based illumination on the photonic efficiency of photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange , 2012 .