Photocatalytic Processes in Membrane Reactors

Conversion and degradation processes of various substrates in various types of matrices using both artificial and solar light are today very attractiveby considering the scarcity and the expensiveness of the conventional energy sources. Coupling of membrane with light has shown to be verypowerful and promising hybrid process, especially because a synergistic effect has often been observed.Some examples of reactions carried out to produce useful chemicals or to degrade noxious species in the optic of the Green Chemistry approach are reported.Fundamentals of heterogeneous photocatalysis, in general, and photocatalytic reactions in membrane reactors, in particular, are treated with a focus on mechanisms and kinetic parameters involved in the different types of reactions (e.g., conversion and oxidation of organics in water) discussing also on the perspective of using solar energy as the radiation source.Some case studies of partial and total oxidations and reduction in photocatalytic membrane reactors are also reported.