1. Principle of photocatalysis

1.1 Definition

Ethymologically, the term photocatalysis is derived from three Greek words: phôtos (light), kata (down or back) and lysis (dissolution or decomposition).

Photocatalysis is therefore the action of a substance called a "photocatalyst" which, under the action of light, increases the speed of a thermodynamically possible chemical reaction without intervening in the reaction's balance equation.

Nowadays, the term "photocatalysis" refers more specifically to "heterogeneous photocatalysis" in which the photocatalyst is a semiconductor (most often titanium dioxide, TiO ₂ ), not a transition metal molecule or complex.

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Principle of photocatalysis

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Characteristics of the most widely used photocatalyst: titanium dioxide

Bibliography

(1) - FUJISHIMA (A.), ZHANG (X.), TRYK (D.) - TiO ₂ photocatalysis and related phenomen. - Surf. Sc. Rep., 63, 515-582 (2008).
(2) - ISMAIL (A.), KANDIEL (T.), BAHNEMANN (D.) - Novel (and better?) titania-based...

Websites

KINGSLEY (M.), DAVIDSON (J.) - Gaseous indoor pollutants, http://www.me.umn.edu/courses/me5115/notes/ClassChemicals.pdf
MOSQUERON (L.), NEDELLEC (V.) - Inventaire des données françaises sur la qualité de l'air à l'intérieur des bâtiments, Observatoire de la qualité de l'air intérieur,...

Events

European Photocatalysis Days, JEP2009, Bordeaux,

http://www.photocatalysis-federation.eu/consult-the-archives.html

European Photocatalysis Days, JEP2011, Bordeaux,

http://www.photocatalysis-federation.eu/jep2011/

Standards and norms

AFNOR Test method for evaluating photocatalytic materials with respect to NOx degradation – Single-pass method in tangential mode AFNOR XP B44-011, December 2009

ISO: Test method for air purification- performance of semi-conducting materials- Part 1: removal of nitric oxide ISO/DIS 22197-2, 2007.

UNI: Determination of the catalytic degradation of nitrogen oxides in...

Regulations

Health and safety regulations: www.inrs.fr/inrs-pub/inrs01.nsf/IntranetObject-accesParReference/INRS-FR/$FILE/fset.html

Commission Directive 2009/161/EC of December 17, 2009 establishes a third list of 19 indicative occupational exposure limit values in application of Council Directive 98/24/EC and amending Directive 2000/39/EC. Member States have until December 18, 2011 to transpose this directive...