Journal of Environmental Science International (한국환경과학회지)

The Korean Environmental Sciences Society (한국환경과학회)
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Effectiveness of Photocatalytic Techniques for Disinfection of Indoor Bioaerosols

실내 미생물 입자 살균을 위한 광촉매 기술의 효율

  • Shin, Seoung-Ho (Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University) ;
  • Kim, Mo-Geun (National Environment and Health Research Institute of Kyungpook Province) ;
  • Jo, Wan-Kuen (Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University)
  • Published : 2007.07.30
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Abstract

The current study evaluated the technical feasibility of the application of titanium dioxide ($TiO_{2}$) photo-catalytic air cleaners for the disinfection of bioaerosols present in indoor air. The evaluation included both laboratory and field tests and the tests of hydraulic diameter (HD) and lamp type (LT). Disinfection efficiency of photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) technique was estimated by survival ratio of bacteria or fungi calculated from the number of viable cells which form colonies on the nutrient agar plates. It was suggested that the reactor coating with $TiO_{2}$ did not enhance the adsorption of bioaerosols, and that the UV irradiation has certain extent of disinfection efficiency. The disinfection efficiency increased as HD decreased, most likely due to the decrease in the light intensity since the distance of the catalyst from the light source increased when increasing the HD. It was further suggested that the mass transfer effects were not as important as the light intensity effects on the PCO disinfection efficiency of bioaerosols. Germicidal lamp was superior to the black lamp for the disinfection of airborne bacteria and fungi, which is supported by the finding that the disinfection efficiencies were higher when the germicidal lamp was used compared to the black lamp in the laboratory test. These findings, combined with operational attributes such as a low pressure drop across the reactor and ambient temperature operation, can make the PCO reactor a possible tool in the effort to improve indoor bioaerosol levels.

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References

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