ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an impetus for the development of technology that can be helpful to the desalination sector, especially in Middle East North Africa (MENA) countries. The application of solar-powered photocatalytic reactors to treat water contaminated with organic pollutants holds promise for regions receiving strong sunlight throughout the year, such as the MENA and the Arabian Gulf regions. Solar energy is abundant in many parts of world, especially in Middle East countries where desalination plays a major role in the supply of freshwater, and it can be effectively used in reverse osmosis pretreatment processes. The Ultraviolet (UV) radiation required for photocatalytic processes may come from an artificial source or the sun. The artificial generation of UV radiation contributes to a large proportion of the operating capital and maintenance costs of a photocatalytic reaction system because of the utility consumption and periodic replacement of the UV lamps.
