AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR CARRYING OUT A PHOTOCATALYTIC REACTION

In an improved process a photocatalytic reaction is carried out in a reaction vessel (1) having an associated light source (8) and containing a fluid reaction mixture and a mobile particulate catalyst, the reaction mixture being caused to circulate in the vessel in a swirl flow while being exposed to light from the light source by introducing a fluid into the vessel in a direction which has a major component tangential to the swirl flow. The process operates in continuous flow mode with the swirl flow ensuring effective mixing of the reaction mixture with the photocatalyst, and effective activation of the latter by the light source (8).