The TiO2/UV advanced oxidation process is an attractive option for destruction of organic contaminants due to its catalytic nature, requiring only electricity and no chemical inputs. Commercial TiO2/UV systems, however, have seen only limited use and rely on rapidly mixed TiO2 slurries to ensure adequate exposure of the catalyst particles to the UV lamps within; a separation step for removing and recycling the TiO2 is thus required, adding additional complexity and energy requirements. The recent emergence of efficient field emitter X-ray sources has led us to investigate the potential use of X-ray irradiation for driving heterogeneous catalysis. Unlike with UV radiation, X-rays can pass through polymers and organics-containing water with minimal attenuation, while showing partial attenuation by certain inorganic materials. This property may allow development of systems utilizing catalysts immobilized on X-ray transparent, high-surface area solid supports, wherein hydroxyl radicals can be continually generated throughout the entire reactor cross-section in a packed bed, flow-through configuration. Results of initial materials development will be presented, wherein we have synthesized UV-radioluminescent particles coated with TiO2 for achieving radical production under X-ray excitation.

Radioluminescent/photocatalytic composite materials for pursuing fixed-bed heterogeneous advanced oxidation using X-rays

249th National Meeting (2015)

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