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Comparison of methods for evaluation of activity of photocatalytic films

  • Photocatalysis: fundamentals and applications in JEP 2011, Bordeaux
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

This work aims to investigate the correlation between the photocatalytic activity determined by methylene blue bleaching (DIN 52980), stearic acid degradation, and degradation of acetone in gas phase.

Method

The photocatalytic TiO2 coatings included in this investigation ranged from thin commercially available coatings (ActivTM and BioCleanTM) and ready to use suspensions (Nano-X PK1245) to lab-produced PVD and sol–gel coatings. XRD analysis of the photocatalytic coatings showed that all the coatings consisted of nanocrystalline anatase, although the thickness and porosity varied considerably.

Results

The study showed that the reproducibility of the activity measurements was good. However, more importantly, the investigation showed that there is a good correlation between the activities determined by the different methods even though the characteristics of the photocatalytic coatings and the organic probe molecules varied considerably.

Conclusion

The overall findings of this work suggest that there is a good correlation between the investigated methods. These results are promising for the future work concerning standardization of methods for determination of the activity of photocatalytic films.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the members of the Clean Catalytic Surfaces Consortium for funding of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Niels Bohrs Vej 8, 6700, Esbjerg, Denmark

    Morten E. Simonsen & Erik G. Søgaard

  2. Center for plastic, Danish Technological Institute, Gregersensvej, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark

    Martin B. Sørensen

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  1. Morten E. Simonsen
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  2. Martin B. Sørensen
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  3. Erik G. Søgaard
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Correspondence to Morten E. Simonsen.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Simonsen, M.E., Sørensen, M.B. & Søgaard, E.G. Comparison of methods for evaluation of activity of photocatalytic films. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 3772–3781 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0695-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0695-x

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