Decomposition of Organic Compounds in Water Using Photocatalyst and Mist

Access to clean water is necessary for the well-being and the economic development of society. Thus, water contamination from human activity such as industry is a serious threat. Recently, the method in which organic contaminants in water are decomposed by photocatalytic ceramic filters have been proposed. However, the filters have a number of limitations including its surface area. To overcome such limitations, the authors have been developing a technology which uses nano-sized photocatalytic TiO2 in combination with ultraviolet light and ultrasound. By using ultrasound, mists which contain nano-sized TiO2 are generated to increase reaction area. To clarify the effect, the decomposition rate of phenol, known as a representative organic compound in wastewater, is experimentally evaluated. In addition, this technology may be applied to decompose organic gaseous pollutants in waste gas.