Titania-functionalized diatom frustules as photocatalyst for indoor air purification
Ouwehand, J.; Van Eynde, E.; De Canck, E.; Lenaerts, S.; Verberckmoes, A.; Van der Voort, P. (2018). Titania-functionalized diatom frustules as photocatalyst for indoor air purification. Appl. Catal. B. 226: 303-310. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.12.063 In: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. Elsevier: Amsterdam. ISSN 0926-3373; e-ISSN 1873-3883, more |  |
| Author keywords | Titania; Diatom frustule; Photocatalysis; Acetaldehyde degradation |
| Authors | | Top | | - Lenaerts, S., more
- Verberckmoes, A., more
- Van der Voort, P., more
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| Abstract | Diatom frustules were extracted from the species Thalassiosira pseudonana and functionalized with titania to be used as photocatalysts in the abatement of acetaldehyde. The synthetic procedure is water-based and environmentally friendly. The synthesis parameters were optimized to give the highest possible photocatalytic activity. The optimized material, visualized with TEM and STEM-EDX, shows the TiO2 nanoparticles grafted inside the frustule pores, as well as on the silica surface. The titania particles, stabilized by the frustules, are 2.5 times more active than the P25 benchmark material. The photocatalyst is then tested in conditions of elevated relative humidity, to simulate indoor air. The catalytic activity only shows a minor decrease at 50% relative humidity, which is a better result than for the P25 benchmark. When tested over an extended period of time, the photocatalyst only shows a minor decrease in activity. |
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