Title: | Enhanced Photocatalytic Efficiency of N-F-Co-Embedded Titania under Visible Light Exposure for Removal of Indoor-Level Pollutants |
Address: | "Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea. ssho@knu.ac.kr. Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Pusan National University, 63 Jangjeon-dong, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 609-735, Korea. chunahh@pusan.ac.kr. Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea. wkjo@knu.ac.kr" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1996-1944 (Print) 1996-1944 (Electronic) 1996-1944 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "N-F-co-embedded titania (N-F-TiO(2)) photocatalysts with varying N:F ratios were synthesized and tested for their ability to photocatalyze the degradation of pollutants present at indoor air levels using visible light. The synthesis was achieved using a solvothermal process with tetrabutyl titanate, urea and ammonium fluoride as sources of Ti, N and F, respectively. Three selected volatile organic compounds (toluene, ethyl benzene and o-xylene) were selected as the test pollutants. The prepared composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Ultra-violet (UV)-visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of N-F-TiO(2) composites were higher than those obtained using pure TiO(2) and N-TiO(2). Moreover, these efficiencies increased as the N:F ratio decreased from sixteen to eight, then decreased as it dropped further to three, indicating the presence of an optimal N:F ratio. Meanwhile, as retention time decreased from 12.4 to 0.62 s, the average photocatalytic efficiencies decreased from 65.4% to 21.7%, 91.5% to 37.8% and 95.8% to 44.7% for toluene, ethyl benzene and o-xylene, respectively. In contrast, the photocatalytic reaction rates increased as retention time decreased. In consideration of all of these factors, under optimized operational conditions, the prepared N-F-TiO(2) composites could be utilized for the degradation of target pollutants at indoor air levels using visible light" |
Keywords: | "N, F co-embedment N:F ratio indoor air levels retention time;" |
Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINEShin, Seung-Ho Chun, Ho-Hwan Jo, Wan-Kuen eng Switzerland 2014/12/24 Materials (Basel). 2014 Dec 24; 8(1):31-41. doi: 10.3390/ma8010031" |