Photocatalysis air purification systems for coronavirus removal: Current technologies and future trends

Chemosphere. 2024 Apr:353:141525. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141525. Epub 2024 Feb 21.

Abstract

Air pollution causes extreme toxicological repercussions for human health and ecology. The management of airborne bacteria and viruses has become an essential goal of air quality control. Existing pathogens in the air, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, can have severe effects on human health. The photocatalysis process is one of the favorable approaches for eliminating them. The oxidative nature of semiconductor-based photocatalysts can be used to fight viral activation as a green, sustainable, and promising approach with significant promise for environmental clean-up. The photocatalysts show wonderful performance under moderate conditions while generating negligible by-products. Airborne viruses can be inactivated by various photocatalytic processes, such as chemical oxidation, toxicity due to the metal ions released from photocatalysts composed of metals, and morphological damage to viruses. This review paper provides a thorough and evaluative analysis of current information on using photocatalytic oxidation to deactivate viruses.

Keywords: Antiviral technology; Covid-19 virus; Environmental remediation; Photocatalytic air filters; Photocatalytic oxidation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution* / prevention & control
  • Coronavirus Infections* / prevention & control
  • Coronavirus*
  • Humans
  • Metals
  • Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

  • Metals