Photoreactor-Initiated Acetaldehyde Conversion Rate of a TiO2-Surface-Treated Alumina Photocatalyst Prepared Using the Sol-Gel Method

In this study, a TiO2-alumina photocatalyst was manufactured by coating a surface-treated alumina substrate with TiO2 sol using the sol-gel method, and the photolysis and conversion of acetaldehyde in the gas phase were evaluated. The effects of acetaldehyde flow rate (i.e., retention time), ultraviolet wavelength, moisture, and catalyst heat-treatment temperature on the conversion of acetaldehyde were investigated. The experiments confirmed that a decrease in flow rate (i.e., increase in retention time), increase in moisture level, and decrease in the ultraviolet wavelength of the light source increased the conversion rate of the gaseous acetaldehyde. Among the three heat-treatment temperatures (450, 650, and 850 degrees C) used in the catalyst manufacturing process, the catalyst treated at 650 degrees C had the highest acetaldehyde conversion rate. As a result of its increased acetaldehyde decomposition and photoefficiency, the newly manufactured TiO2-alumina photocatalyst is expected to be used alongside a photoreactor as an air-purifying filter. Furthermore, the photocatalyst surface treatment demonstrated herein can be adopted to fabricate various environmentally friendly materials in the future.

Automated summary

In this study, a TiO2-alumina photocatalyst was manufactured and tested for the photolysis and conversion of acetaldehyde. The results showed that decreasing the flow rate, increasing the moisture level, and decreasing the ultraviolet wavelength increased the conversion rate of acetaldehyde. Among the heat-treatment temperatures used, the catalyst treated at 650 degrees C had the highest conversion rate. This newly manufactured TiO2-alumina photocatalyst has potential applications in air purification, and the surface treatment method demonstrated in this study can be used to fabricate other environmentally friendly materials in the future.