Abstract
The photodecolourisation of textile dye Reactive Blue 19 (RB 19), an anionic anthraquinone dye of the reactive class, was investigated using UV radiation in the presence of H2O2 in a batch photo-reactor with low-pressure mercury lamps. The effects of the system parameters: initial pH, initial dye concentration, concentration of peroxide and radiation intensity, as well as the presence of salts, (NaCl, Na2SO4, NaNO3, NaH2PO4) on dye decolourisation was examined. Increasing the initial pH resulted in an increase in decolourisation efficiency. Results showed that with an increase of dye concentration from 10 to 100 mg.l(-1), the efficiency of the process decreases. The highest decolourisation rates were noted at H2O2 concentrations of approximately 30 mmol.l(-1). The increase of radiation intensity from 730 to 1 950 mu W.cm(-2), linearly increases decolourisation efficiency. The inorganic ions investigated have inhibiting effects on RB 19 decolourisation by the UV/H2O2 process with inhibition intensities in the following order: H2PO4-> NO3-> SO42-> Cl-. This study has shown that the UV/H2O2 process is a promising technology for degradation of RB 19 in water and wastewater.