Photocatalytic degradation of oily waste and phenol from a local South Africa oil refinery wastewater using response methodology

The photocatalytic degradation of a local South Africa oil refinery wastewater was conducted under UV radiation using an aqueous catalyst of titanium dioxide (TiO2), Degussa P25 (80% anatase, 20% rutile) in suspension. The experiment was carried out in a batch aerated photocatalytic reactor based on a central composite design (CCD) and analyzed using response surface methodology (RSM). The effects of three operational variables viz. TiO(2) dosage (2–8 g/L), runtime (30–90 minutes), and airflow rate (0.768–1.48 L/min) were examined for the removal of phenol and soap oil and grease (SOG). The data derived from the CCD, and the successive analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed the TiO(2) dosage to be the most influential factor, while the other factors were also significant (P < 0.0001). Also, the ANOVA test revealed the second-order of TiO(2) dosage and runtime as the main interaction factors on the removal efficiency. To maximize the pollutant removal, the optimum conditions were found at runtime of 90 minutes, TiO(2) dosage of 8 g/L, and an aeration flow rate of 1.225 L/min. Under the conditions stated, the percentage removal of phenol (300 ± 7) and SOG (4000 ± 23) were 76% and 88% respectively. At 95% confidence level, the predicted models developed results were in reasonable agreement with that of the experimental data, which confirms the adaptability of the models. The first-order kinetic constants were estimated as 0.136 min(−1) and 0.083 min(−1) for SOG and phenol respectively.