Method and apparatus for destroying organic compounds in fluid

A method for photocatalytic oxidation of organic contaminants in a fluid, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a reactor including a treatment zone containing a TiO.sub.2 photocatalyst affixed to an adsorbent support material, the TiO.sub.2 photocatalyst being formed on the adsorbent support material by hydrolysis of a coating of titanium isopropoxide;
• (b) introducing the fluid into said treatment zone for contact with said TiO.sub.2 photocatalyst and said adsorbent support material and exposing the fluid and said TiO.sub.2 photocatalyst and support material to UV radiation while the fluid is in said treatment zone, for a first period sufficient to destroy a desired amount of the organic contaminants in the fluid and to regenerate the support material;
• (c) continuing to introduce the fluid into said treatment zone for contact with said TiO.sub.2 photocatalyst and said adsorbent support material in the absence of UV radiation for a second period when the adsorbent support material is capable of removing organic contaminants from the fluid;
• (d) emptying the fluid from said treatment zone;
• (e) flushing said treatment zone with regeneration liquid to transfer organic contaminants from said TiO.sub.2 photocatalyst and support material into the regeneration liquid;
• (f) treating the regeneration liquid to destroy organic contaminants contained therein;
• and
• (g) optionally repeating steps (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f).