Photocatalytic purification device

摘要

A photocatalytic reactor (10) for the treatment of contaminated fluids, such as water, is described. The reactor comprises a first flow channel (18) for receiving fluid from an inlet means, a second flow channel (22) for delivering fluid to an outlet means, a selectively-permeable filtration membrane (16) intermediate the first and second flow channels (18, 22), having a first surface (26) that receives fluid from the first flow channel (18) and an opposite second surface (24) defining, at least in part, the second fluid flow channel (22), and at least one photocatalyst support (28) disposed in the first flow channel (18). The first and second surfaces (24, 26) of the filtration membrane (16) and the photocatalyst support (28) each comprise an immobilised photocatalytic material capable of catalysing photocatalytic breakdown of contaminants in the fluid, in use of the reactor. The fluid therefore undergoes three photocatalytic treatment stages and a filtration stage during its passage through the reactor.