Enhanced Oxidation of Air Contaminants on an Ultra-Low Density UV-Accessible Aerogel Photocatalyst

ABSTRACTThis research developed new forms of photocatalysts that could potentially move photocatalytic degradation of air contaminants into the main stream of industrially used remediation technologies. Tests of the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 aerogel catalysts have been carried out using both acetone and methane as the air contaminant. For comparison, the same tests were carried out on a standard (non-aerogel) anatase powder. Despite having very low crystallinity, the aerogel decontaminates the air far more effectively than an equal volume of the anatase powder which indicates that a much larger fraction of the aerogel is activated by the UV light. Experimental data were used to determine adsorption equilibrium constants for acetone, and to determine reaction rate constants assuming a Langmuir-Hinshelwood type rate expression.