Journal of Health and Safety at Work

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Introduction: Emission of volatile organic compounds through industrial processes to the environment has been received more attentions currently. Photocatalytic oxidation process as a new emerging technique in air purification can be substituted for conventional techniques such as activated carbon adsorption. In photocatalytic oxidation process, pollutant molecules decompose to water and carbon dioxide molecules. The objective of present study was the examination of influencing parameters such as concentration, relative humidity, and superficial gas velocity on photocatalytic oxidation of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) in a fluidized bed reactor.

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Material and Method: In this study photocatalytic oxidation of MEK was examined in a fluidized bed reactor. Gamma alumina coated titanium dioxide particles under ultraviolet light were used as photocatalyst. The efficiency of photocatalytic oxidation process was determined using measurement of MEK concentrations at the inlet and outlet of the fluidized bed reactor.

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Result: The study of MEKphotocatalytic oxidation was carried out in the concentration range of 100 to 800 PPM with 25% and 45% relative humidity. Photocatalytic degradation of MEK at the relative 45 % humidity was slightly lower than 25 %. Increasing MEK concentration from 200 to 800 PPM was led to decrease in degradation efficiency. At concentrations of 100 and 200 PPM MEK, increasing superficial gas velocity did not change the degradation efficiency, whereas, at concentrations of 200 to 800 PPM, increasing superficial gas velocity resulted in decrease in MEK degradation.

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Conclusion: In photocatalytic oxidation of MEK, there is a competitive adsorption between water and MEK and at higher relative humidity degradation of MEK decreases. In the fluidized bed reactor increasing superficial gas velocity causes decrement in MEK photocatalytic degradation.Increasinginitial concentration of pollutant results in decreasing ofphotocatalytic efficiency due to the limited number of active sites on the catalyst surface.

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Introduction: Indoor air environments contain a wide variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses in which some of them can affect the human health. Filtration is considered as one of the most common methods to remove microorganisms in these environments. The purpose of current study was to investigation the neat and photocatalytic HEPA filters performance at different face velocities and various intensity of UVC light source on the reduction of airborne microorganisms.

Material and Method: After installation of the neat and photocatalytic HEPA filters in a closed–loop chamber, suspension of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis bacteria with a concentration of 107 CFU / ml were sprayed into the closed–loop chamber by nebulizer. Sampling of penetrated microorganisms from filters were performed using the NIOSH 0800 method under ambient temperature 22±3oC, relative humidity 35±5%, and different air velocity (0.1 m/s and 0.3 m/s) and UVC different radiation intensity (1 mW/cm2, 1.8 mW/cm2 and no radiation (dark)) at 30 minutes time period. penetrated microorganisms density from filters was determined in term of CFU/m3.

Result: There were no significant differences in the penetration rates of microorganisms at the dark mode between the two neat and photocatalytic HEPA filters (p>0.05). The penetration rate of bacteria was significantly decreased in the neat and photocatalytic HEPA filters at UVC radiation mode with various intensities than dark mode (p<0.05). In addition, comparison of the filters in the illuminance modes of 1 mW/cm2 and 1.8 mW/cm2 were statistically significant (P <0.05). Also, UVC radiation with the 1.8mW/cm2 illuminance compared to the 1 mW/cm2 illuminance resulted in a greater reduction in the bacterial penetration from both types of filters, which is statistically significant(p<0.05). The bacteria penetration rate dramatically increased by increasing the face velocity from 0.1 m/s to 0.3 m/s under UVC radiation at an illuminance of 1mW/cm2, 1.8mW/cm2 and as well as in no radiation mode in both types of HEPA filters (P <0.05).

Conclusion: Photocatalytic HEPA filters and increasing UVC illuminance, especially at lower surface velocities, have a significant positive effect on reducing airborne microorganisms and increasing the efficiency of HEPA filters

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Introduction: Ethylbenzene is a volatile organic compound used in many industries, including oil and gas, oil colored and insecticides. Due to the toxic effects of this chemical substance, control and elimination of this vapor is necessary. Photocatalytic degradation is a possible method to remove organic compounds from air. This study was performed to determine the efficiency of photocatalytic removal of ethylbenzene vapor using ZnO nanoparticles immobilized on modified natural zeolite. 
Material and Methods: Natural zeolite was first modified with hydrochloric acid and then with diphenyl dichlorosilane. Next, zinc oxide nanoparticles were stabilized on the zeolites. Dynamic air flow and different concentrations of ethyl benzene (25, 50, 100 and 200 ppm) were produced and the removal efficiency of ethylbenzene vapor was investigated using UV/MZe/ZnO. The temperature and relative humidity were set at 25±2°c and 35%. The surface and volume of the pores of the bed were determined by the BET method and surface structure was determined by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD).
Results: Evaluations for BET showed the specific surface areas decreased by increasing the amount of ZnO. XRD analysis and SEM images showed that zeolite structure was stabled and nanoparticles was successfully stabilized on Ze. The results showed that the highest removal efficiency (50.8%) by the process of UV/MZe/ZnO at concentration 25 ppm.
Conclusion: The result of this study showed that the Ze/ZnO catalyst may be an applicable and hopeful method to removal of ethylbenzene from air flow under UV irradiation