Decontamination of Ventilation Systems Using Photocatalytic Air Cleaning Technology

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Yogi Goswami
Keyword(s):  
Fiber Optics ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Photocatalytic Oxidation ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Air Contamination ◽  
Air Cleaning ◽  
Volatile Organic Chemicals ◽  
Uv Photons ◽  
Cleaning Technology

Indoor air pollution is caused by particulate matter and chemical and microbial contamination. Conventional technologies, including filteration, do not adequately provide complete answers to these problems. Photocatalytic oxidation combined with filteration provides one of the most viable solutions to the problem of indoor air contamination by microorganisms and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). It can also provide a defense against bioterrorism. This paper describes the theoretical background of the technology and results of its effectiveness against VOCs, bacteria, spores, and dust mite allergens. Although the technology uses UV photons from blacklight, it can be designed to use sunlight with the help of fiber optics.

scholarly journals Electrostatic Precipitators as an Indoor Air Cleaner—A Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 8774
Author(s):  
Alireza Afshari ◽  
Lars Ekberg ◽  
Luboš Forejt ◽  
Jinhan Mo ◽  
Siamak Rahimi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Air Filtration ◽  
Pressure Drops ◽  
Air Cleaning ◽  
Air Cleaner ◽  
Air Cleaners ◽  
Electrostatic Precipitators ◽  
Cleaning Technology

Many people spend most of their time in an indoor environment. A positive relationship exists between indoor environmental quality and the health, wellbeing, and productivity of occupants in buildings. The indoor environment is affected by pollutants, such as gases and particles. Pollutants can be removed from the indoor environment in various ways. Air-cleaning devices are commonly marketed as benefiting the removal of air pollutants and, consequently, improving indoor air quality. Depending on the type of cleaning technology, air cleaners may generate undesired and toxic byproducts. Different air filtration technologies, such as electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) have been introduced to the market. The ESP has been used in buildings because it can remove particles while only causing low pressure drops. Moreover, ESPs can be either in-duct or standalone units. This review aims to provide an overview of ESP use, methods for testing this product, the performance of existing ESPs concerning removing pollutants and their byproducts, and the existing market for ESPs.

scholarly journals Assessment of Commercial Active Ceramic Tiles on Benzene Degradation for the Pollution Control of Indoor Atmospheric Buildings

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
R. Crepaldi ◽  
G. M. Titato ◽  
F. M. Lanças ◽  
E. P. Sichieri ◽  
M. Telascrea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Ceramic Tile ◽  
Photocatalytic Oxidation ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Fluorescent Light ◽  
Ceramic Tiles ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Benzene Degradation ◽  
Ceramic Samples

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) constitutes an important class of air pollutants, and benzene is one of the main contaminants of indoor air pollution. Among the methods for the treatment of environments with a high VOCs concentration is the photocatalytic oxidation by TiO2 (anatase) ceramic coated surfaces. The effectiveness of VOCs photodegradation studies using active ceramic tiles made in laboratory is well reported in the literature. However, this has not been reported using commercial tiles, although active ceramics are sold for such a function. In this context, this study proposed the assessment of commercial active ceramic tiles capacity in the photocatalytic degradation of benzene in indoor air. The development of this work arose from two questions: a) if the commercial active ceramic tiles are efficient in the VOCs degradation as the manufacturers claim; b) if they are able to degrade VOCs in indoor building environments. Experiments were conducted in laboratory’s scale, using an adapted simulation chamber. The volatilized benzene entered in contact with the commercial ceramic tile under fluorescent light and ultraviolet (UV) light of 365 nm. Samples of the chamber internal air were collected by adsorption on polydimethylsiloxane fibres in headspace technique (SPME-HS). The evaluation of the benzene degradation occurred by gas chromatography analysis with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The characterization of commercial active ceramic samples occurred by techniques of X-Ray Diffraction Powder (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS). Results showed that, under the experimental conditions, the commercial active ceramic tile was not capable of the benzene photocatalytic oxidation. The ceramic characterization detected very low quantity of TiO2 on ceramic samples, being this fact attributed as the main responsible for the ceramic photocatalytic inactiveness.

Performance of ultraviolet photocatalytic oxidation for indoor air cleaning applications

Indoor Air ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. Hodgson ◽  
H. Destaillats ◽  
D. P. Sullivan ◽  
W. J. Fisk
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Photocatalytic Oxidation ◽  
Air Cleaning

Photocatalytic Disinfection of Indoor Air

1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Y. Goswami ◽  
D. M. Trivedi ◽  
S. S. Block
Keyword(s):  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Retention Time ◽  
Photocatalytic Oxidation ◽  
Antibacterial Effect ◽  
Air Velocity ◽  
Complete Inactivation ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Uv Photons

The present study demonstrated the antibacterial effect of photocatalytic oxidation in indoor air using titanium dioxide as the catalyst. Through a series of experiments, it was determined that titanium dioxide did enhance the inactivation rate of the microorganisms under certain conditions. In these experiments the air velocity, relative humidity, and UV (350 nm) intensity were varied. It was found that higher velocities retarded the destruction rate due to the low retention time in the reactor. TiO2 also did not accelerate the reaction at low humidities (30 percent). At a relative humidity of 50 percent, there was complete inactivation of the organisms, but at higher humidities (85 percent), 10 percent of the organisms were still viable. The experiments showed that at higher UV intensities, most of the inactivation was done by the UV photons. However, the photons were not able to completely inactivate the microorganisms. In the photocatalysis experiments there was complete inactivation of the bacteria.

scholarly journals Recent Chalenges of indoor air quality

Paliva ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 114-135
Author(s):  
František Skácel ◽  
Viktor Tekáč
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Photocatalytic Oxidation ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Membrane Separation ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Good Opportunity ◽  
Complex Issue ◽  
Treatment Techniques

Indoor air pollution is a complex issue involving a wide diversity and variability of pollutants that threats human health. In this context, major efforts should be made to enhance indoor air quality. Thus, it is important to start by the control of indoor pollution sources. This review presents a general overview of single treatment techniques such as mechanical and electrical filtration, adsorption, ozonation, photolysis, photocatalytic oxidation, biological processes, and membrane separation. Since there is currently no technology that can be considered fully satisfactory for achieving ‘‘cleaner’’ indoor air, special attention is paid to combined purification technologies or innovative alternatives that are currently under research and have not yet been commercialized (plasma-catalytic hybrid systems, hybrid ozonation systems, biofilter-adsorption systems, etc.). These systems seem to be a good opportunity as they integrate synergetic advantages to achieve good indoor air quality. Review contains more than 150 references.

AWARENESS ABOUT INDOOR AIR POLLUTION IN GENERAL POPULATION OF RAWALPINDI AND ISLAMABAD

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-83
Author(s):  
Nadia Tariq ◽  
Tamkeen Jaffry ◽  
Rahma Fiaz ◽  
Abdul Majid Rajput ◽  
Sadaf Khalid
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
General Population ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Indoor air pollutants are increasingly being associated with respiratory illnesses leading to high degree of morbidity and mortality. There are not sufficient epidemiological studies from Pakistan which assess level of awareness of indoor air pollution resulting in respiratory diseases in population. Methods: This cross sectional survey was carried out on general population of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Sample size was 223 study subjects selected by non-probability convenient sampling. Knowledge of the study subjects was determined with regard to indoor air pollution, its effects on health and different sources of indoor air pollution with the help of a questionnaire. The influence of age, gender, educational status and socio economic status on the level of awareness was also analyzed. Results: Out of total 223 participants, 115 were males and108 females. Participants aware of indoor air pollution were 91.5% and adequate awareness about its sources was 80.7%. Those who knew indoor air pollution is detrimental to health were 95.1%. Awareness about building construction dust as source of indoor air pollution was maximum (84.8%). There was significant difference in awareness among participants with different monthly incomes and educational status and also between males and females. Conclusion: This study concludes that general population of Rawalpindi/Islamabad has fairly good awareness about sources of indoor air pollution. Use of harmful material causing indoor air pollution should be limited or substituted with better ones where possible.

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