Combined photocatalytic and ultrasonic degradation of organic contaminants

摘要

Treatment of aqueous liquid containing organic contaminants comprises contacting the liquid with a semiconductor photocatalyst, irradiating the liquid with light of wavelengths from 200 to 800 nm to cause photocatalysis and exposure to ultrasound energy. Titanium oxide, zinc oxide, cadmium sulfide, iron oxide, gallium phosphide, tin oxide, silicon carbide and tungsten oxide may be used a photocatalysts. The photocatalyst may be a zeolite membrane incorporating titanium into its framework, or a titania-silica composite aerogel. Composite photocatalysts comprising titanium, chromium and/or vanadium into the frameworks of molecular sieve materials, and processes for their preparation are also described.