Abstract: A fluid treatment device for reducing the level of a chemical compound in a fluid. The device comprises: a fluid inlet; a fluid outlet; a flow-through fluid treatment zone having comprising: a radiation source, an adsorbent and a photocatalyst. The fluid treatment zone is reversibly operable between: (i) a first mode in which the fluid flows in a first direction and at least a portion of the chemical compound is adsorbed on the adsorbent; and (ii) a second mode in which the fluid flows in a second direction different from the first direction in which the absorbed chemical compound is exposed to radiation from the radiation resulting in photooxidation of the chemical compound.

Abstract: A fluid treatment device for reducing the level of a chemical compound in a fluid. The device comprises: a fluid inlet; a fluid outlet; a flow-through fluid treatment zone having comprising: a radiation source, an adsorbent and a photocatalyst. The fluid treatment zone is reversibly operable between: (i) a first mode in which the fluid flows in a first direction and at least a portion of the chemical compound is adsorbed on the adsorbent; and (ii) a second mode in which the fluid flows in a second direction different from the first direction in which the adsorbed chemical compound is exposed to radiation from the radiation resulting in photooxidation of the chemical compound.

Abstract: A photocatalyst compound comprising: (i) a photocatalyst selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, WO.sub.3 and mixtures thereof, the photocatalyst being substantially free of sharp, narrow band X-ray reflections at angles corresponding those of crystalline TiO.sub.2, WO.sub.3 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a porous, crystalline, adsorbent support material. A process for producing the photocatalyst compound is also disclosed. The process comprises: (i) hydrolysing a non-ionic titanium compound to produce a colloidal suspension having an average particle size of less than about 250 .ANG.; (ii) contacting a porous, crystalline, adsorbent support material with the colloidal suspension to produce an impregnated support; and (iii) calcining the impregnated support to produce the photocatalyst compound. The photocatalyst compound is useful, in the treatment of a fluid containing an organic pollutant.

Abstract: A photocatalyst compound comprising a silica-based support material having bound thereto a photocatalyst selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, WO.sub.3 and mixtures thereof, the photocatalyst compound having been derivatized by reaction with an alcohol compound. The process for producing the photocatalyst compound comprises the steps of: (i) contacting a silica-based support material having bound thereto a photocatalyst selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, WO.sub.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for destroying halogenated hydrocarbons such as PCBs and PCBs in PCB containing fluids (e.g., Askarel) and oils (e.g., paraffin oil, transformer oil, etc.) at ambient temperature. The process comprises reacting halogenated hydrocarbons, such as PCB containing fluids or oils with a solid oxidant in the presence of a concentrated acid. Preferably, the solid oxidant is potassium permanganate and the concentrated acid is sulfuric acid. Destruction efficiency is as high as 99.95%.

Abstract: This is disclosed a process for the decomposition of halogenated hydrocarbons including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and chlorinated pesticides, as DDT and DDE. The process comprises microwave-mediated wet-ashing of the halogenated hydrocarbons(s) in controlled conditions to avoid an emission of noxious fumes from the reaction mixture. Preferably, the wet-ashing reagent is a 1:1 mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid.

Abstract: A composite photocatalyst for refractory waste treatment comprising particles of a wide band gap semiconductor material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenide, the particles being coated with a polymer film capable of absorbing a refractory waste substrate to be treated and comprising a pyridine-containing polymer and a divalent metal porphyrin or phthalocyanine-based dye. The dye is molecularly dispersed throughout the film and chemically bonded to the pyridine-containing polymer. Upon mixing of the photocatalyst with the refractory waste substrate and irradiation with light having a wavelength of about 300 to about 400 nm, the photocalyst of the invention generates in the polymer film thereof reactive species which are sufficiently oxidizing to degrade the refractory waste substrate absorbed in the polymer film.