title: The viability of photocatalysis for air purification.
abstract: Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) air purification technology is reviewed based on the decades of research conducted by the United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) and their external colleagues. UTRC conducted basic research on the reaction rates of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The knowledge gained allowed validation of 1D and 3D prototype reactor models that guided further purifier development. Colleagues worldwide validated purifier prototypes in simulated realistic indoor environments. Prototype products were deployed in office environments both in the United States and France. As a result of these validation studies, it was discovered that both catalyst lifetime and byproduct formation are barriers to implementing this technology. Research is ongoing at the University of Connecticut that is applicable to extending catalyst lifetime, increasing catalyst efficiency and extending activation wavelength from the ultraviolet to the visible wavelengths. It is critical that catalyst lifetime is extended to realize cost effective implementation of PCO air purification.
authors.affiliation: United Technologies Research Center (ret.), 35 Weigel Valley Drive, Tolland, CT 06082, USA. hayso@comcast.net.
authors.forename: Stephen O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.affiliation: United Technologies Research Center (ret.), 351 Foster Street, South Windsor, CT 06074, USA. tnobee@snet.net.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, U-3060, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA. luozhu711@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, U-3222, 191 Auditorium Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA. tij11001@engr.uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, U-3060, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA. yongtao.meng@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yongtao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, U-3060, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA. junkai.he@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Junkai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, U-3060, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA. steven.c.murphy@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, U-3060, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA. steven.suib@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suib
mesh_terms: D061808:Air Filters; D002384:Catalysis; D007700:Kinetics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D013696:Temperature; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds