Photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds in wastewaters

Due to the toxicity effects and endocrine disrupting properties of many organic compounds, their removal from water and wastewater has gained widespread global attention. This review summarizes photocatalytic degradation of different organic molecules present in wastewaters. This is an overview of photocatalytic degradation with the goal of presenting the technique as an attractive and viable process unit. This process has great potential for replacing other conventional methods for treatment of wastewaters and can be used at the advanced treatment stage. Photocatalytic degradation techniques should be more used in wastewater treatment because with this technique it is possible to decrease contaminants to certain acceptable discharge limits. However, the technique is still not being utilised on an industrial scale. This is mainly due to focus of researchers to study singular contaminants such as alcohols, carboxylic acid, phenol and its derivate, chlorinated aromatic compounds, colours, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and different type of surface active agents. TiO₂ can be used as a photocatalyst in water purification to degrade organic pollutants.