Tesis profesional presentada por Fernanda Rivas Chávez

Licenciatura en Ingeniería Química con área en Ingeniería Ambiental. Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Alimentos. Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de las Américas Puebla.

Cholula, Puebla, México a 4 de enero de 2006.

Resumen

Abstract Pesticide use worldwide has brought with itself a series of unsolved environmental problems that are increasingly straining the ability of earth to naturally recycle its components. One of the side-problems related to pesticide use is the disposal of the empty containers, since they contain traces of toxic chemicals and should not be handled as a traditional plastic container. Eliminating these compounds dissolved in the rinsing water of the containers (rinsate) has proven a difficult task due to the remarkable stability of the compounds present. Remediation technology needs to be both accessible and sustainable for its success, and neither of these characteristics may be undermined. Fusing these ideas, a solution for an accessible and sustainable technology for the degradation of pesticide compounds dissolved in rinsate is solar photocatalysis. Solar photocatalysis is an alternative method for the degradation of recalcitrant compounds. Blanco and Malato. (2000) have reported good degradation results of agrochemicals including 2,4-D, carbamates, triazines, organohalogenated and organophosphorus compounds. Several experiments have been carried out at laboratory level, but more data is needed for its application to a real life situation. Pilot plant experiments are required to attain the best engineering parameters in the removal of pesticide compounds for its eventual setup in industries or communities. 6

This work aims to determine the best engineering parameters for a solar photocatalytic plant at a pilot level. The construction design allows several configurations and given a target depuration efficiency it suggests the best arrangement. The proposed configuration is based on process efficiency, cost, required maintenance and complexity. Reaction kinetic parameters are related to pilot working operation. Two pesticides were used as degradation models, 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and atrazine.

Table of content

Portada (archivo pdf, 37 kb)

Índices (archivo pdf, 44 kb)

Acronyms (archivo pdf, 45 kb)

Capítulo 1. Introduction (archivo pdf, 74 kb)

Capítulo 2. Objectives (archivo pdf, 48 kb)

  • 2.1 General
  • 2.2 Particular

Capítulo 3. Background on Pesticides (archivo pdf, 253 kb)

  • 3.1 Definition and classification
  • 3.2 Pesticide history
  • 3.3 Health/environmental problems associated with pesticide use
  • 3.4 Mexico and pesticides
  • 3.5 L 2,4-D
  • 3.6 Atrazine
  • 3.7 Container management

Capítulo 4. Theoretical Background for the Hydraulic System (archivo pdf, 83 kb)

  • 4.1 Bernoulli’s Equation
  • 4.2 Energy Loss Due to Friction
  • 4.3 Accessory Materials

Capítulo 5. Background on Advanced Oxidation Processes (archivo pdf, 186 kb)

  • 5.1 Non-Photochemical Processes
  • 5.2 Photochemical Processes
  • 5.3 Figures- of-Merit

Capítulo 6. Materials and Methods (archivo pdf, 263 kb)

  • 6.1 General Work Plan
  • 6.2 Pilot Plant Studies

Capítulo 7. Results and Discussion (archivo pdf, 490 kb)

  • 7.1 Hydraulic Excel Worksheet
  • 7.2 Available Area and Selected System Configuration
  • 7.3 Selection of Accessory Type and Materials
  • 7.4 Suppliers, Cost and Units Needed
  • 7.5 Detailed Assembly Process
  • 7.6 Selection and Evaluation of a Figure-of-Merit
  • 7.7 Operation Times for the Degradation of Selected Pesticides Using Fenton Reagent and Co-PMS

Capítulo 8. Conclusions and Recommendations (archivo pdf, 71 kb)

Referencias (archivo pdf, 83 kb)

Apéndice A. Law Extracts (archivo pdf, 39 kb)

Apéndice B. List of Commercial Names in (archivo pdf, 82 kb)

Apéndice C. Chemical Resistance Table (archivo pdf, 58 kb)

Apéndice D. Specification Sheets for Pilot plant Equipment (archivo pdf, 241 kb)

Rivas Chávez, F. 2006. Pilot Plant Design for use in Solar Photocatalytic Degradation Applications. Tesis Licenciatura. Ingeniería Química con área en Ingeniería Ambiental. Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Alimentos, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de las Américas Puebla. Enero. Derechos Reservados © 2006.