Abstract

Phenol or hydroxyl-benzene is one of the toxic hydrocarbons that grouped as a priority pollutant by EPA. It is one common compound that exists in industrial wastewaters including petroleum refining and petrochemistry, pesticide, oils and painting, organic chemicals, plastics, resins etc. that leads to environment pollution especially water resources. The aim of this study was evaluation of phenol degradation by use of nano-photocatalytic UV/ZnOprocess in a pilot. In the study, a 125 Watt UV lamp was used. Phenol measurement carried out using spectrophotometer. Results showed that there is reverse relationship between removal efficiency of phenol with increasing of pH in the case of nano-photocatalytic UV/ZnO process. Optimum conditions in nano- photocatalytic UV/ZnO process obtained in 10 mg/l phenol, contact time 30 min at pH=5.Results indicate thatnano-photocatalytic UV/ZnO processcan be used as an effective method forphenol removal from aqueous solutions. © 2015 Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Union of Chemists in Bulgaria.