A group of researchers from Thailand investigated the combined effect of adsorption and oxidation for phenolic wastewater treatment using a three phase fluidized bed reactor. The group continuously fed aqueous solutions containing phenol and ozone into a reactor resulting in a comparison of seven cases.
According to Pratarn Wongsarivej, a researcher at National Nanotechnology Center, NANOTEC, “Phenol plays an important role in industrial processes as starter material. However, it is also known to be carcinogenic and possesses high stability and toxicity. It can damage skin and tissues of human and animals. It can damage the skin and tissues of human and animals. When digested, phenol-containing liquid can affect the liver, causing dark urine and irregular heartbeat. Therefore, the treatment of phenolic wastewater is of importance to environmental protection”. The degradation of aqueous phenol by simultaneously use of ozone and activade carbon or zeolite offers an environmental alternative phenol treatment.
Collaborators on this investigation included Chulalongkorn University and King Mongkut University of Technology Thonburi. The researchers reported their investigation in a paper published by Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering.