Photocatalytic degradation of NOx in a pilot street canyon configuration using TiO2-mortar panels

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 136; no. 1-3; pp. 35 - 44
• Main Authors: Maggos, Th, Plassais, A., Bartzis, J. G., Vasilakos, Ch, Moussiopoulos, N., Bonafous, L.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.01.2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biodegradation; Catalysis; Cities; Construction; Construction Materials; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Efficiency; Environment; Environmental conditions; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Experiments; Gases; General processes of purification and dust removal; Humans; Laboratories; Monitoring systems; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nitric Oxide - chemistry; Photocatalysis; Photochemistry; Photodegradation; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution levels; Pollution sources; Prevention and purification methods; Studies; Sunlight; Titanium - chemistry; Titanium dioxide; Urban environments; Weather; building materials; NOx degradation; TiO; Pilot street canyon; Photocatalysis; Meteorology; Nitrogen oxide; Coating material; Mortar; Pollution control; Construction materials; Urban area; Street canyon; TiO2 building materials; Air pollution; Pollution abatement; Titanium oxide; Solar radiation; Catalyst; Photochemical degradation; Modified material
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-007-9722-2

Titanium dioxide is the most important photocatalysts used for purifying applications. If a TiO 2 - containing material is left outdoors as a form of flat panels, it is activated by sunlight to remove harmful NOx gases during the day. The photocatalytic efficiency of a TiO 2 -treated mortar for removal of NOx was investigated in the frame of this work. For this purpose a fully equipped monitoring system was designed at a pilot site. This system allows the in situ evaluation of the de-polluting properties of a photocatalytic material by taking into account the climatologic phenomena in street canyons, accurate measurements of pollution level and full registration of meteorological data The pilot site involved three artificial canyon streets, a pollution source, continuous NOx measurements inside the canyons and the source as well as background and meteorological measurements. Significant differences on the NOx concentration level were observed between the TiO 2 treated and the reference canyon. NOx values in TiO 2 canyon were 36.7 to 82.0% lower than the ones observed in the reference one. Data arising from this study could be used to assess the impact of the photocatalytic material on the purification of the urban environment.