Grantee Research Project Results
Visible-Light-Responsive Titania Modified with Aerogel/Ferroelectric Optical Materials for VOC Oxidation
EPA Grant Number: R831276C004Subproject: this is subproject number 004 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant CR831276
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Gulf Coast HSRC (Lamar)
Center Director: Ho, Tho C.
Title: Visible-Light-Responsive Titania Modified with Aerogel/Ferroelectric Optical Materials for VOC Oxidation
Investigators: Chen, Daniel , Li, Ku-Yen
Institution: Lamar University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: December 1, 2003 through November 30, 2004
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (Lamar University) (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research
Objective:
Effective and economical air-pollution control is much needed for the industries to meet state and federal regulations and to preserve the environment. The most common emission control methods for these air pollutants, commonly known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), include carbon adsorption, catalytic oxidation, incineration, etc. In cases of low concentration, low flow rate, non-centralized, or low temperature operations, photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) currently has economic advantages over the aforementioned traditional technologies. PCO uses photocatalyst under UV/Vis. light illumination to degrade organic pollutants to innocuous compounds without NOx generation. PCO like photosynthesis in green plants, uses the light energy as a driving force.
Recently, great strides are made in terms of developing photocatalyst that responds to visible light. The use of visible light is very attractive since UV account for only 4 % of the solar energy while visible light makes up a sizable 43%.Visible light also dominates in the light spectra of fluorescent light, tungsten lamp, and xenon lamp, etc. The photocatalytic oxidation (or reduction) using visible light has the potential to make photocatalysis a "real-world" technology in a wide range of applications including the destruction of VOCs, sterilization of bacteria, splitting of NOx/SOx reduction of metal ions, and splitting of H2O and H2S to recover useful resources.
The research objectives are (1) to use aerogel TiO2 powder to increase the porosity and surface area of the VLR TiO2 (samples available from Japan), (2) to use the transparent optical crystals to guide UV/Visible light into the catalyst interiors; (3) to characterize the modified VLR TiOx with UV/Vis. spectro-photometer, XRD, and XRF to determine the electric, magnetic, and optical properties that may be responsible for the enhancement.
Approach:
Lamar University has synthesized a super-porous TiO2 with a BET surface area of 237 m2/g and a porosity of 0.31. We propose to use this aerogel TiO2 along with visible-light-responsive (VLR) TiO2 to enhance VOC adsorption and OH generation. We also propose to use wide band gap, high transmittance, ferroelectric crystals such as LiNbO3 and BaTiO2 as additives to utilize visible light more efficiently.
Expected Results:
The modified catalyst will be compared with the VLR TiO2 and Degussa P-25 TiO2 for the degradation of VOC. The model VOCs include butyraldehyde, perchloroethylene (PCE), and ethylbenzene. The reaction parameters will be space velocity, inlet concentration, humidity, and light source (xenon light, fluorescent light, and black light). Oxidation by-products will be identified using a GCMS, The spent catalyst can be washed with deionized water to detect water soluble, nonvolatile intermediates. The proposal is a three years project.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 3 publications for this subproject | View all 64 publications for this centerJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 2 journal articles for this subproject | View all 18 journal articles for this centerSupplemental Keywords:
RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Waste, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Environmental Chemistry, air toxics, Chemicals, Hazardous Waste, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Environmental Engineering, Hazardous, emission control strategies, hazardous waste treatment, mass spectrometry, emission control technologies, advanced treatment technologies, air pollution control, VOC removal, VOCs, gas chromatography, emissions, aerogel catalysts, visible light responsive titania, air pollution control technology, photocatalytic oxidation, VOC emission controls, atmospheric mercury chemistry, VOC remediation, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), emissions contol engineeringProgress and Final Reports:
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
CR831276 Gulf Coast HSRC (Lamar) Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R831276C001 DNAPL Source Control by Reductive Dechlorination with Fe(II)
R831276C002 Arsenic Removal and Stabilization with Synthesized Pyrite
R831276C003 A Large-Scale Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Ethanol on Groundwater Contamination
R831276C004 Visible-Light-Responsive Titania Modified with Aerogel/Ferroelectric Optical Materials for VOC Oxidation
R831276C005 Development of a Microwave-Induced On-Site Regeneration Technology for Advancing the Control of Mercury and VOC Emissions Employing Activated Carbon
R831276C006 Pollution Prevention through Functionality Tracking and Property Integration
R831276C007 Compact Nephelometer System for On-Line Monitoring of Particulate Matter Emissions
R831276C008 Effect of Pitting Corrosion Promoters on the Treatment of Waters Contaminated with a Nitroaromatic Compounds Using Integrated Reductive/Oxidative Processes
R831276C009 Linear Polymer Chain and Bioengineered Chelators for Metals Remediation
R831276C010 Treatment of Perchlorate Contaminated Water Using a Combined Biotic/Abiotic Process
R831276C011 Rapid Determination of Microbial Pathways for Pollutant Degradation
R831276C012 Simulations of the Emission, Transport, Chemistry and Deposition of Atmospheric Mercury in the Upper Gulf Coast Region
R831276C013 Reduction of Environmental Impact and Improvement of Intrinsic Security in Unsteady-state
R831276C014 Integrated Chemical Complex and Cogeneration Analysis System: Greenhouse Gas Management and Pollution Prevention Solutions
R831276C015 Improved Combustion Catalysts for NOx Emission Reduction
R831276C016 A Large-Scale Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Ethanol on Groundwater Contamination
R831276C017 Minimization of Hazardous Ion-Exchange Brine Waste by Biological Treatment of Perchlorate and Nitrate to Allow Brine Recycle
R831276C018 Integrated Chemical Complex and Cogeneration Analysis System: Greenhouse Gas Management and Pollution Prevention Solutions
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
2 journal articles for this subproject
Main Center: CR831276
64 publications for this center
18 journal articles for this center