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Photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds using nanocomposite of P-type and N-type transition metal semiconductors

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials for energy, environment and building applications
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A Correction to this article was published on 02 July 2021

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Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the main causes of poor indoor quality. It has been reported that the presence of VOCs in an indoor environment causes several acute respiratory health issues and also increases the risk of cancer. Over the past several years, various mechanisms have been proposed for VOCs removal from indoor environments. Nanoscale photocatalyst-based air purifying technologies have been popular in recent years. These technologies are based on photocatalytic oxidation process. The ability of this method to mineralize VOCs into carbon dioxide and water is its main attractive feature. Titanium oxide-based photo-catalysts have been commonly used for this purpose mainly because of their stability, corrosion resistance, and non-toxicity. However, its high excitation energy, low electron transfer rate to oxygen, and high recombination rate of electron/hole pair limit its photocatalytic performance in the UV–visible (UV–Vis) range. In this research, the authors built a photoreactor fitted with polyurethane foams coated with a corrosion-resistant nanocomposite to degrade VOCs in the presence of ultraviolet and visible light. The material is prepared through the sol–gel method. It is characterized by conducting the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV–Vis absorption spectrometry, and scanning electron microscope analysis. The efficiency of the photocatalyst was measured by observing acetone decay within the custom-made chamber. In all, 86.24% reduction in acetone concentration was observed. The results showed that the nanocomposite is capable of degrading the test VOC. Further research needs to be conducted to optimize the nanocomposite to make it commercially viable.

Highlights

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the main causes of poor indoor quality.

  • Photocatalyst-based air purifying technologies have been popular in recent years.

  • In this article, a nanocomposite was prepared for remediating VOCs.

  • The results showed that the nanocomposite is capable of degrading the test VOC.

  • 86.24% reduction in test VOC concentration was observed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC DG under project number RGPIN-2016-04176). The authors would like to express their gratitude for the support. The authors sincerely thank Greg Labbe, Chun Yin Siu, Claire Tam, and Yuqing Zhao from Department of Architectural Science, Building Science Program,Ryerson University for their support.

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  1. Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University, P.O. Box M5B 2K3, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu & Zaiyi Liao

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  1. Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu
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Degefu, D.M., Liao, Z. Photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds using nanocomposite of P-type and N-type transition metal semiconductors. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 98, 605–614 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-021-05532-y

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