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A facile method to prepare translucent anatase thin films in monolithic structures for gas stream purification

  • New Challenges in the Application of Advanced Oxidation Processes
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Abstract

In the present work, a facile method to prepare translucent anatase thin films on cellulose acetate monolithic (CAM) structures was developed. A simple sol–gel method was applied to synthesize photoactive TiO2 anatase nanoparticles using tetra-n-butyl titanium as precursor. The immobilization of the photocatalyst on CAM structures was performed by a simple dip-coating method. The translucent anatase thin films allow the UV light penetration through the CAM internal walls. The photocatalytic activity was tested on the degradation of n-decane (model volatile organic compound—VOC) in gas phase, using a tubular lab-scale (irradiated by simulated solar light) and pilot-scale (irradiated by natural solar light or UVA light) reactors packed with TiO2-CAM structures, both equipped with compound parabolic collectors (CPCs). The efficiency of the photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) process in the degradation of n-decane molecules was studied at different operating conditions at lab-scale, such as catalytic bed size (40–160 cm), TiO2 film thickness (0.435–0.869 μm), feed flow rate (75–300 cm3 min−1), n-decane feed concentration (44–194 ppm), humidity (3 and 40%), oxygen concentration (0 and 21%), and incident UV irradiance (18.9, 29.1, and 38.4 WUV m−2). The decontamination of a bioaerosol stream was also evaluated by the PCO process, using Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) as model bacteria. A pilot-scale unit was operated day and night, using natural sunlight and artificial UV light, to show its performance in the mineralization of n-decane air streams under real outdoor conditions.

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Funding

Financial support was provided by project PTDC/EQU-EQU/100554/2008 (AIRPHOTOXI). This work was also financially supported by Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984—Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM funded by FEDER through COMPETE2020—Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI)—and by national funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. Caio Rodrigues-Silva acknowledges CAPES (2013:8674/13-2) and FAPESP (2014:2014/16622-3) research scholarship and the project CAPES/FCT 308/11 for financial support. R.A.R. Monteiro gratefully acknowledges FCT for his post-doc research fellowship, SFRH/BPD/112900/2015. V.J.P. Vilar and A.M.T. Silva acknowledge the FCT Investigator 2013 Programme (IF/00273/2013 and IF/01501/2013, respectively).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering – Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Caio Rodrigues-Silva, Adrián M. T. Silva, Rui A. R. Boaventura & Vítor J. P. Vilar

  2. Institute of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Campinas, P.O. Box 6154, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Caio Rodrigues-Silva

  3. LEPABE - Laboratory for Process, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Ricardo A. R. Monteiro

  4. Chemical Engineering Program – COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, P.O. Box 68 502, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-972, Brazil

    Márcia Dezotti

  5. Laboratory of Microbiology, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, No. 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal

    Eugénia Pinto

  6. Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal

    Eugénia Pinto

Authors
  1. Caio Rodrigues-Silva
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  2. Ricardo A. R. Monteiro
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  3. Márcia Dezotti
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  4. Adrián M. T. Silva
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  5. Eugénia Pinto
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  6. Rui A. R. Boaventura
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  7. Vítor J. P. Vilar
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Caio Rodrigues-Silva or Vítor J. P. Vilar.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Suresh Pillai

Highlights

• A simple sol–gel method was used to produce a UV-solar active TiO2 film.

• Photocatalytic oxidation studies were performed at lab and pilot scales.

• The photocatalyst was active for n-decane degradation and bacteria inactivation.

• Photocatalyst yields n-decane gas-phase conversions up to 98%.

• The photocatalyst was stable above 360 h of use.

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Rodrigues-Silva, C., Monteiro, R.A.R., Dezotti, M. et al. A facile method to prepare translucent anatase thin films in monolithic structures for gas stream purification. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 27796–27807 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2008-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2008-0

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