Factorial experimental design of Orange II photocatalytic discolouration

Photo-discolouration of Orange II solutions at different concentrations was carried out in a 11 concentric reactor irradiated with a 254 nm mercury lamp (125 W) in the presence of Degussa TiO(2) P-25 dispersions. Experimentation involving discolouration of Orange II has been carried out using factorial design methodology for the simulation of the three critical variables affecting the dye discolouration: concentration of Orange H, pH and concentration of TiO(2). A single polynomial function corresponding to optical absorbance of Orange II (Y) was constructed for the treatment of the experimental data obtained in the immersion photo-reactor. The function (Y) allowed the prediction of the residual discolouration after 20 min photo-treatment. By following this model, a minimum of well-chosen experiments was performed to optimise Orange II photo-discolouration. The modelling takes into account that in the chemical system one reaction parameter determines the setting of another and vice-versa (interactive effects). The correlation factor between the experimental and predicted values by the polynomial expression for the discolouration of Orange II was better than 95%. In a typical photo-reactor run at pH 3, the concentration of TiO(2) could be decreased to values <0.5 g/l without affecting the discolouration kinetics. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.