Volatile organic compounds in indoor environment and photocatalytic oxidation: state of the art

Environ Int. 2007 Jul;33(5):694-705. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2007.02.011. Epub 2007 Mar 26.

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the major pollutants in indoor air, which significantly impact indoor air quality and thus influencing human health. A long-term exposure to VOCs will be detrimental to human health causing sick building syndrome (SBS). Photocatalytic oxidation of VOCs is a cost-effective technology for VOCs removal compared with adsorption, biofiltration, or thermal catalysis. In this paper, we review the current exposure level of VOCs in various indoor environment and state of the art technology for photocatalytic oxidation of VOCs from indoor air. The concentrations and emission rates of commonly occurring VOCs in indoor air are presented. The effective catalyst systems, under UV and visible light, are discussed and the kinetics of photocatalytic oxidation is also presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis*
  • Catalysis
  • Construction Materials
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Environmental Pollutants / chemistry
  • Environmental Pollutants / radiation effects
  • Household Products
  • Kinetics
  • Light
  • Organic Chemicals / analysis*
  • Organic Chemicals / chemistry
  • Organic Chemicals / radiation effects
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Photochemistry
  • Titanium / chemistry
  • Transportation
  • Volatilization
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Water
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium