PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF OIL COMPONENTS IN SEA WATER USING ORGANOMETALLIC CATALYSTS

Abstract

The work in this thesis deals with preparation of metal phthalocyanines and organometallic compounds, where the structures of these compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis, spectroscopic investigation via FTIR, MS and some chemical tests, These compounds were used as catalysts in the photocatalytic degradation of :

I - Model individual hydrocarbons, a-xylene, decalin, n­ tetradecane. representing the main hydrocarbon types 1n petroleum, i.e., aromatic, naphthanes and n-paraffiris.

II -Paraffin oil. III - Crude oil.

IPhotocatalytic Degradation of Individual Hydrocarbons :

. Using the prepared catalysts in batch reactor containing ; sea water to wliich the hydrocarbons or oil, the catalyst and/or an oxygen: carrier were added. Atmospheric air was pumped in the reactor mixture at a fixed flow rate for a certain . duration in artificial sun light irradiation (mercuric lamp). By the end.of a reaction, the remaining oily phase was extracted by ether and weighedprecisely.

Photocatalytic degradation of the three model individual hydroCarbons using FePc as a catalyst and benzoyl peroxide as · an oxygen carrier. Concentration of catalyst, concentration of. benzoyl peroxide and irradiation period were the photodegradation parameters ihvestigatea. The photo­ catalytic reactivities of the three model hydrocarbons were found to be in the following order :