title: Concept and validation of a fully automated photocatalytic test setup.
abstract: Photocatalytic activity can be studied by several methods, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. To study photocatalytic activity in an easy, user-friendly, and realistic way, a completely new setup has been built. The setup is modularly constructed around Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy at the heart of it, resulting in great versatility. Complementary software has been written for automatic control of the setup and for processing the generated data. Two pollutants, oil and n-octane, are tested to validate the performance of the setup. These validation experiments confirm the usefulness and added value of the setup in general and of the FTIR detection methodology as well. It becomes clear that a system of online measurements with good repeatability, accuracy, and user-friendliness has been created.
authors.affiliation: University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium. tom.tytgat@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tytgat
authors.forename: Birger
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hauchecorne
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.forename: Sammy W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Verbruggen
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lenaerts
mesh_terms: D057205:Automation, Laboratory / Q000379:methods*; D002384:Catalysis; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism; D009795:Octanes / Q000378:metabolism; D009821:Oils / Q000378:metabolism; D010782:Photolysis; D012984:Software; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009795:Octanes; D009821:Oils; C026728:octane