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How Photocatalysis Works
Ultrafine TiO2 acts as a catalyst in the presence of ultraviolet light and initiates a reaction with atmospheric pollutants. The TiO2, when suitably incorporated into formulated products, essentially neutralises pollutants, resulting in depolluting surfaces. Natural sunlight comprises more than sufficient UV energy to initiate the photocatalytic process.
Photocatalytic TiO2 drives a chemical reaction that oxidizes surface dirt and pollutants. It can be used in the following applications:
| Self-Cleaning - The interface between the surface and the attached contaminants is broken down. The contaminants can then be washed away by rinsing or rain.
Depollution - Pollutants, such as oxides of nitrogen and sulphur present in vehicle exhaust, are altered once they contact the surface to form more desirable molecules. De-odourising - Toxic and unpleasant odours such as VOC's can be neutralised. |
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Millennium Inorganic Chemicals produces a range of Ultrafine Titanium Dioxide products to serve the emerging Photocatalysis market.
Photocatalytic Powders
These products are derived from a range of chemical processes and display a range of surface morphologies and particle size distributions.
Photocatalytic Powders can be incorporated into suitably formulated exterior coatings, building and construction materials and transportation infrastructure products for roads, pavings and noise barriers. Millennium has experience in the formulation and testing of these materials containing photocatalytic powders as the active ingredient. Photocatalytic functionality as described above can also be beneficial in many other applications such as plastics, textiles, roof tiles etc.
Photocatalytic Sols
Millennium offers two aqueous colloidal dispersions of ultrafine TiO2 peptised with acid or base to provide sols S5-300A and S5-300B. These sols can be applied to surfaces exposed to sunlight in order to render them photocatalytic. These products show activity in the visible spectrum, albeit at a reduced level compared to UV irradiation.
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