Solar Catalytic Enhancement of the Biodegradation of Water Pollutants : Physico-chemical and technical aspects

In spite of great knowledge on the existing biological water treatment processes, the development of innovative processes among which the photocatalysis is continuously growing since the 80s. In fact, certain chemicals, mostly from synthetic chemistry, are not or could only be biodegraded under very critical conditions. They are called biorecalcitrant and, once they get into normal biological treatment plants, they very often pass over them without being degraded. Photocatalytic processes had shown to effectively degrade many of such chemicals and, if the sun: an environmental friendly source of energy is used; such process could become efficient and then be widely used over the world particularly in developing countries. The model has been implemented with designed prototypes and following problem solving approaches as well in a high tech environment (Switzerland) as in a low cost one (Burkina Faso) where direct sunlight had been used. The lessons learned from this work can be used to increase knowledge of professionals of water treatment sector and environmentalists in developing countries; it also offers to young scientists, a pedagogical approach of conducting academic research