Indoor formaldehyde removal by catalytic oxidation, adsorption and nanofibrous membranes: a review

Indoor pollution of air by formaldehyde poses a serious threat to human health because formaldehyde causes illnesses and discomfort even at low levels, thus calling for abatement techniques. Techniques include absorption, physisorption, chemisorption, biological and botanical filtration, photocatalytic decomposition, membrane separation, plasma and catalytic oxidation. Here we review the principles, performances, advantages and disadvantages of these techniques, with focus on catalytic oxidation, adsorption and the use of nanofibrous membranes. Supported noble metal and metal oxide-based materials are efficient catalysts for oxidation. We present photocatalytic oxidation under UV, visible and solar light using composites. Chemisorption method is reviewed with focus on amino-containing adsorbents, conditions of temperature and relative humidity and surface properties. Nanofibrous membranes display high density of active sites for pollutant interactions and allow formaldehyde removal without leaching out of catalyst nanoparticles or adsorbents.

Automated summary

Indoor air pollution by formaldehyde is a serious threat to human health, requiring the use of techniques such as absorption, chemisorption, biological and botanical filtration. The study focuses on the principles and performances of catalytic oxidation, adsorption, and nanofibrous membranes for formaldehyde removal. High efficiency of supported noble metal and metal oxide-based materials in oxidation, photocatalytic oxidation under various light conditions, and chemisorption method using amino-containing adsorbents are highlighted.