Development of a Digitally Baffled Electro-Photocatalytic oxidation batch Reactor for Real-Time Control and High-Efficiency Treatment of Refinery Wastewater

Abstract

This study presents the growth and optimization of a new design of an electro/photocatalytic organic compounds oxidation batch reactor with a digital baffle for refinery wastewater (RWW). The system combined electro and photo oxidation with zinc oxide as a photo catalyst by using a stainless steel anode and an iron cathode. The combined design was operated under varying oxidation times (5–25 min), pH solution (3–9), agitation speed (100-300), and catalyst (10–50 mg/L) to assess treatment competence and enhance working parameters by Box-Behnken design under response surface design. The digital baffled configuration was used to enhance mixing and irritation distribution, confirming the activation of the catalyst and mass transfer throughout the batch electrooxidation reactor. Results established important organic degradation, with electro-oxidation alone attaining a maximum removal efficiency of 91.2%, while the combined photo-electrochemical process reached up to 99.5% competence under optimal conditions of 25 min, 50 ppm catalyst concentration, and 9 pH. The reactor's presentation was credited to the synergistic effects of free radical production, the activity of photocatalytic, and enhanced hydrodynamics eased by the digital baffling design for organic compounds in refinery wastewater.