Small test chamber experiment and modeling of photocatalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds under indoor environmental conditions

The purpose of this study is to propose a prediction model on photocatalytic oxidation of toluene under indoor environmental conditions. To identify the kinetic parameter of the photocatalytic oxidation process of TiO₂-bound building material, the chamber test and the CFD analysis were conducted. The conversions of the photocatalytic building material were ≥ 93% of the initial toluene concentration, demonstrating that the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the test building material used was high under visible light irradiation. In the results of CFD carried out under assuming 'perfect sink' conditions in regard the target material, the contaminant concentration in the exhaust outlet was ∼3% of that in the supply inlet. The degree of conversion of the target material by the photocatalytic building material matched closely with that expected from 'perfect sink' conditions in this cases. In addition, determinations of the kinetic model parameters were conducted in this study.