Photocatalytic degradation of n-hexane in a circulating fluidized bed: An investigation based on the freeboard entrainment model

The fluidization behaviour of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) photoreactor was varied by applying different flow (Q) and solid feed rates (Fs), and the performance of the reactor for the degradation of the target pollutant n-hexane was compared for a wide range of fluidization regimes. The Freeboard Entrainment Model was applied to model and predict the values of solids hold-up (εs) in the experimental range evaluated. The optimum n-hexane degradation rate for the CFB was found to be 4.0 × 10−4 mol m-3 s-1 operating in turbulent fluidization regime with εs = 0.10 with the finer solid size distribution, demonstrating that high-velocity fluidization regimes can be used to enhance photocatalytic reaction rates based on better UV-photocatalyst contact.