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383598 
Journal Article 
The effect of activated carbon adsorption on the photocatalytic removal of formaldehyde 
Lu, Y; Wang, D; Ma, C; Yang, H 
2010 
1 
Building and Environment
ISSN: 0360-1323
EISSN: 1873-684X 
45 
3 
615-621 
English 
WOS:000272307700012 
Photocatalysis is an emerging and promising technology for indoor air purification. This photocatalytic method is effective in the case of a higher pollutant concentration, but its wide application in indoor air purification is limited due to the low level of indoor air contaminants. In order to improve the removal of pollutants in indoor air, we evaluated the photocatalytic performance over the nanosized TiO sub(2) particles immobilized on the surface of activated carbon (AC) filter for the removal of formaldehyde (HCHO). It is shown that the photocatalytic reaction rate increased because the AC could adsorb the pollutants from the diluted air stream to generate a high concentration of the pollutants on the catalyst surfaces. The photocatalytic reaction took place from the diffusion control process to the photocatalytic reaction control process with the rise in flow velocity. In the former process, the photocatalytic reaction rate increased, whereas in the later process photocatalytic reaction rate changed little with increasing flow velocity. The flow velocity was lower over the TiO sub(2)/AC catalyst than over the TiO sub(2)/glass catalyst when the photocatalytic reaction was switched from the diffusion control process to the photocatalytic reaction control process. It is also observed that the indoor low-concentration HCHO could be photocatalytically degraded over TiO sub(2)/AC, with the HCHO concentration in the product mixture falling into the standard range that is specified by the indoor air quality standard of China. 
Article Subject Terms: Activated carbon; Activated carbon adsorption; Catalysts; Diffusion; Filters; Formaldehyde; Indoor air pollution; Indoor environments; Particulates; Pollutant removal; Technology; Velocity; Article Geographic Terms: China, People's Rep.