Modeling and design of a solar panel for Ni2+ reduction by CuFe2O4/ZnO photocatalyst: Influence of some physical parameters

Abstract

This study presents the modeling and design of a solar concentrator reactor equipped with a fixed bed of “CuFe₂O₄/ZnO” catalyst immobilized on glass plates for the Ni²⁺ photoelectrodeposition. Key operational parameters such as initial Ni²⁺ concentration, flow rate, catalyst mass, reactor volume, pH, and the number of catalytic plates were systematically investigated. A peristaltic pump facilitated the circulation of the solution under solar irradiation to enable the Ni⁺² reduction, a hazardous heavy metal. Experimentally, a maximum Ni²⁺ reduction efficiency of 58 % was achieved at an optimal concentration of 20 ppm. The simulation results are very similar, predicting a reduction efficiency of 62 %. Such results demonstrate the potential of solar-driven photoreactors in treating heavy metal-contaminated wastewater and provides a basis for future optimization and scale-up studies.