In recent decades, the problems related to environmental pollution, related to the deterioration of the quality of water, air and soil, have been the subject of great discussions due to their deleterious effects on the entire ecosystem and human health. In this broad general context, the scientific community has paid particular attention to the creation of photocatalysts capable of removing atmospheric pollutants in the gaseous phase. These processes exploit the catalytic properties exhibited by particular semiconductor materials (such as TiO2) which, if irradiated with appropriate electromagnetic radiation, produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) capable of effectively degrading pollutants. This thesis paper aims to discuss how the use of similar materials can significantly improve the air quality in closed environments (indoor) such as workplaces, offices, homes but also vehicles such as airplanes, buses, trains and cars. . In this application context, building materials such as cements, wallpapers, paints, flooring and normal heating, ventilation and air conditioning devices can be designed intelligently, by suitably integrating a catalyst, which makes them useful for: i) degrade organic and inorganic air pollutants; ii) inactivate pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. This paper is organized in three parts. Initially, the general aspects that characterize a photocatalytic process are presented, paying particular attention to titanium dioxide, discussing its physico-chemical characteristics and the most common ways to improve its functional properties. The second part focuses on the creation of materials and devices, based on titanium dioxide, capable of purifying the air in indoor environments and on the parameters that can also influence heavily the efficiency of the photocatalytic process. Finally, the third part takes into consideration the efforts made by the scientific community towards the construction and research of photocatalytic reactors that allow to overcome the still existing limits relating to the use of photocatalytic technologies in the purification of indoor environments.
Negli ultimi decenni, le problematiche connesse all’inquinamento ambientale, legate al peggioramento della qualità di acqua, aria e suolo sono state oggetto di grandi discussioni per i loro effetti deleteri sull’intero ecosistema e la salute umana. In tale ampio contesto generale, la comunità scientifica ha rivolto particolare attenzione alla realizzazione di fotocatalizzatori in grado di rimuovere inquinanti atmosferici in fase gassosa. Tali processi sfruttano le proprietà catalitiche esibite da particolari materiali semiconduttori (come TiO2) che, se irradiati con radiazione elettromagnetica opportuna, producono specie reattive dell’ossigeno (ROS) in grado di degradare efficacemente gli inquinanti. Questo elaborato di tesi si propone di discutere come l’impiego di simili materiali possa migliorare sensibilmente la qualità dell’aria negli ambienti chiusi (indoor) quali per esempio luoghi di lavoro, uffici, abitazioni ma anche veicoli come aerei, autobus, treni e automobili. In tale contesto applicativo, i materiali da costruzione quali cementi, carte da parati, vernici, pavimentazioni e i normali dispositivi di riscaldamento, ventilazione e condizionamento, possono essere progettati in modo intelligente, integrando opportunamente un catalizzatore, il quale li rende utili per: i) degradare inquinanti atmosferici di tipo organico e inorganico; ii) rendere inattivi agenti patogeni quali virus, batteri e miceti. Il presente elaborato è organizzato in tre parti. Inizialmente si presentano gli aspetti generali che caratterizzano un processo fotocatalitico, ponendo particolare attenzione verso il biossido di titanio, discutendone le caratteristiche fisico-chimiche e i modi più comuni per migliorarne le proprietà funzionali. La seconda parte si concentra sulla realizzazione di materiali e dispositivi, a base di diossido di titanio, in grado di purificare l’aria in ambienti indoor e sui parametri che possono influenzare anche pesantemente l’efficienza del processo fotocatalitico. La terza parte, infine, prende in considerazione gli sforzi realizzati dalla comunità scientifica verso la realizzazione e la ricerca di reattori fotocatalitici che permettano di superare i limiti, ancora esistenti, relativi all’impiego di tecnologie fotocatalitiche nella purificazione degli ambienti indoor.
Fotocatalisi per la purificazione indoor dell'aria
BAZZEGHINI, CHIARA
2021/2022
Abstract
In recent decades, the problems related to environmental pollution, related to the deterioration of the quality of water, air and soil, have been the subject of great discussions due to their deleterious effects on the entire ecosystem and human health. In this broad general context, the scientific community has paid particular attention to the creation of photocatalysts capable of removing atmospheric pollutants in the gaseous phase. These processes exploit the catalytic properties exhibited by particular semiconductor materials (such as TiO2) which, if irradiated with appropriate electromagnetic radiation, produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) capable of effectively degrading pollutants. This thesis paper aims to discuss how the use of similar materials can significantly improve the air quality in closed environments (indoor) such as workplaces, offices, homes but also vehicles such as airplanes, buses, trains and cars. . In this application context, building materials such as cements, wallpapers, paints, flooring and normal heating, ventilation and air conditioning devices can be designed intelligently, by suitably integrating a catalyst, which makes them useful for: i) degrade organic and inorganic air pollutants; ii) inactivate pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. This paper is organized in three parts. Initially, the general aspects that characterize a photocatalytic process are presented, paying particular attention to titanium dioxide, discussing its physico-chemical characteristics and the most common ways to improve its functional properties. The second part focuses on the creation of materials and devices, based on titanium dioxide, capable of purifying the air in indoor environments and on the parameters that can also influence heavily the efficiency of the photocatalytic process. Finally, the third part takes into consideration the efforts made by the scientific community towards the construction and research of photocatalytic reactors that allow to overcome the still existing limits relating to the use of photocatalytic technologies in the purification of indoor environments.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/39842