Analysis of preparation of TiO₂ particles by diffusion flame reactor for photodegradation of phenol and toluene

Abstract

TiO₂ nanoparticles were produced in the diffusion flame reactor, and the size and anatase/rutile content of TiO₂ were examined by a Particle Size Analyzer and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Increase in fuel/O₂ ratio, initial concentration of TiCl₄ or total gas flow rate causes the larger particle size and the higher rutile composition. The photocatalytic activities of TiO₂ powders were tested on the decompositions of phenol and toluene in the aqueous solution under UV irradiation. The degradation rate increases as the TiO₂ particle size decreases and as the initial concentration of phenol or toluene increases. The photodegradation rate of phenol by TiO₂ particles is higher than that of toluene at the same process conditions. The computational method was used to simulate the gas temperature, velocity and species mass fractions inside the diffusion flame reactor during synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The measured and simulated temperature results were compared on several positions above the burner and both of them show good agreements. The typical contours of TiCl₄, TiO₂ mass fractions and gas velocities in flame reactor were presented.