The Immobilization of Titanium Dioxide on Organic Polymers, for a Cost Effective and Energy Efficient Means of Improving Indoorair Quality

Abstract

The formation and spray coating, with Degussa P25 titanium dioxide (TiO₂), of a room temperature curable resin to form a photocatalytically active material is described in this paper. The TiO₂ surface layers produced have been characteristed with the aid of scanning electron microscope analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the samples tested using a gas phase continuous flow type photoreactor, the test pollutant being propene. Analysis of the test results indicates the potential of TiO₂ coated polymers to form effective photocatalytic materials, with the potential to improve indoor air quality and reduce the energy consumption of ventilation systems.

Keywords:

• Photocatalytic Oxidation
• Polymer Coating
• Energy
• Ventilation
• Air purification

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many thanks to Neil Bowering, a research fellow at the School of Mechanical Materials & Manufacturing Engineering, the University of Nottingham, for his help and assistance with running experiments and with data analysis. Thanks are also owed to the EPSRC for sponsoring this research through the INREB Faraday Partnership.

Notes

Bowering N.(2004). Transition metal modified titanium dioxide photocatalysis for the removal of nitric oxide. PhD Thesis, School of Mechanical Materials & Manufacturing Engineering, The University of Nottingham