The photocatalytic oxidation degradation of NOx in the air with TiO2 thin films

The gas-solid heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation using TiO2/UV was cond ucted, and it was found that the degradation efficiency of NOx in air was v ery high, reaching 97% in the ranges of experimental concentration, Some fa ctors affecting NOx photocatalytic destruction were investigated. The adsor ption of NOx on TiO2 thin film surface in the dark, photocatalytic reaction kinetics and mechanism were studied, and some important conclusions were d rawn. The product of NOx photocatalysis was detected to be HNO3 by FTIR, Th e greater part of HNO3 was adsorbed on TiO2 surface, causing catalyst deact ivation, but when the catalyst was washed by water, its activity was regene rated as usual, In the end, NOx photocatalytic oxidation experiments were p erformed under sunlight irradiation, and NOx photocatalytic degradation yie lds remained high. The results showed that this process has potential appli cations to the elimination of NOx from the air.