Rapid Neutralization of Acetone Vapors with a Nanodispersed Aerosol of Titanium Dioxide

Abstract

A specially dispersed aerosol adsorbent can be used for the rapid removal of hazardous gas emissions from the air. The ability to perform photocatalytic oxidation under ambient conditions further enhances the efficiency of this method for neutralizing hazardous chemicals. Titanium oxide (TiO₂) is a well-known material with both photocatalytic and adsorption properties, and higher particle dispersion and specific surface area increase its effectiveness. This study experimentally examines the rapid removal of acetone vapors, used as a model for hazardous air contamination, using an aerosol of TiO₂ nanopowder and TiO₂ with the addition of silver particles of various morphologies under ultraviolet (UV) illumination. The initial acetone vapor concentration in the test chamber was approximately 280 ppm. The powder was dispersed in the chamber using a pulse generator at a pressure of 8 atm. UV illumination was provided by an LED lamp with a wavelength of 390 nm. Acetone vapor concentration was measured with an InfraLUM FT-801 Fourier spectrometer, while particle dispersion and concentration were assessed using the LID-2M device, based on small-angle laser scattering. The results show that dispersed TiO₂ powders effectively reduce acetone vapor concentrations by up to 44%, even without UV illumination, where aerosol particles act as adsorbents. The most significant photocatalytic effect under UV illumination was observed for TiO₂–Ag–SiO₂ aerosols with spherical particles. The key advantage of pulse powder dispersion is its high aerosol generation speed (fractions of a second) and increased dispersion due to the breakup of particle agglomerates under impact, which increases the surface area available for adsorption and chemical reactions. These findings contribute to the development and optimization of aerosol-based methods for neutralizing hazardous gas emissions.