Photocatalytic air treatment process under room light

• US 5,874,701 A
• Filed: 04/10/1996
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TOTO Company Limited (Toto Limited)
• Original Assignee: TOTO Company Limited (Toto Limited)
• Inventors: Fujishima, Akira, Hashimoto, Kazuhito, Watanabe, Toshiya, Kojima, Eiichi, Kitamura, Atushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Cecilia J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELACROIX MUIRHEI, CYBILLE
• Application Number:
  US08/630,468
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 204/157.15, 204/158.2, 204/158.21, 204/157.3, 588/227, 55/279, 250/492.1, 250/492.2
• US Class Current: 204/157.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/802 Photocatalytic
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/804 UV light
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/86 Catalytic processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8603 Removing sulfur compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8606 only one sulfur compound other than sulfur oxides or hydrogen sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8621 Removing nitrogen compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8634 Ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/885 Devices in general for catalytic purification of waste gases

Abstract

A process for photocatalytically treating a hospital room contaminated by bacteria or an interior environment bearing airborne malodorous substances. A thin film of photocatalyst made of a semiconductor such as titanium dioxide is disposed on the inner wall of the hospital room or living space. The photocatalytic thin film is irradiated by a light source suitable for general lighting applications, such as a fluorescent lamp, and is photoexcited by the small amount of ultraviolet radiation included in the light of fluorescent lamp. The wattage of the fluorescent lamp as well as the distance between the photocatalytic thin film and the lamp are selected such that the intensity of those UV wavelengths which have a higher energy than the band gap energy of the photo-catalyst is 0.001-1 mW/cm², preferably, 0.01-0.1 mW/cm². The bacteria and chemical compounds deposited on the photoexcited thin film are photodecomposed.

Claims

1. A process for photocatalytically sterilizing a room having an interior defined by enclosing surfaces including vertical walls and a ceiling, comprising:

covering at least a part of the enclosing surfaces of the room with a thin film of photocatalytic semiconductor material having a band gap energy;

disposing in the room an electric lamp for emitting visible light with sufficient intensity to illuminate the room with said visible light, said lamp emitting substantially no wavelength component of less than 300 nm and emitting ultraviolet radiation having an energy higher than the band gap energy of said semiconductor material in an amount effective to photoexcite said thin film; and

energizing said lamp to illuminate said room with visible light and to simultaneously impinge said ultraviolet radiation upon said thin film with an intensity of 0.001-0.1 mW/cm², to thereby photoexcite said thin film with said ultraviolet radiation whereby bacteria brought into contact with said thin film are photocatalytically destroyed upon illumination of said room.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein said room is a hospital room.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein said room is a food processing enclosure.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein said thin film is impinged by said ultraviolet radiation with an intensity of 0.01-0.1 mW/cm².

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein said electric lamp is a low-pressure mercury fluorescent lamp capable of emitting light including ultraviolet radiation having wavelengths of about 313 and 365 nm.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein said electric lamp is a low-pressure mercury fluorescent lamp capable of emitting light including ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of 350-360 nm.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein said electric lamp is a high intensity discharge lamp.

8. A process according to claim 7, wherein said high intensity discharge lamp is a metal halide lamp.

9. A process according to claim 1, wherein said electric lamp is an incandescent lamp.

10. A process according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor material comprises the anatase form of titanium dioxide.

11. A process according to claim 10, wherein the thickness of said thin film is about 0.3-10 micrometers.

12. A process according to claim 10, wherein said thin film of titanium dioxide is supported on a substrate affixed to said enclosing surface.

13. A process according to claim 12, wherein said substrate is a glazed tile.

14. A process according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor material comprises metalized particles of the rutile form of titanium dioxide.

15. A process according to claim 1, wherein said electric lamp is mounted on said ceiling.

16. A process for photocatalytically decontaminating a room having an interior defined by enclosing surfaces including vertical walls and a ceiling, comprising:

covering at least a part of the enclosing surfaces of said room with a thin film of photocatalytic semiconductor material having a band gap energy;

disposing in the room an electric lamp for emitting visible light with sufficient intensity to illuminate the room with said visible light, said lamp emitting substantially no wavelength component of less than 300 nm and emitting ultraviolet radiation having an energy higher than the band gap energy of said semiconductor material in an amount effective to photoexcite said thin film; and

energizing said lamp to illuminate said room and to simultaneously impinge said ultraviolet radiation upon said thin film with an intensity of 0.001-1 mW/cm², to thereby photoexcite said thin film with said ultraviolet radiation whereby contaminants brought into contact with said thin film are photodecomposed upon illumination of said room.

17. A process according to claim 16, wherein said thin film is impinged by said ultraviolet radiation with an intensity of 0.01-0.1 mW/cm².

18. A process according to claim 16, wherein air in the room is deodorized upon photoexcitation of said photocatalytic thin film.

19. A process according to claim 16, wherein airborne organic substances in the room are photodecomposed upon contact with said photocatalytic thin film.

20. A process according to claim 16, wherein said electric lamp is mounted on said ceiling.

21. A process for photocatalytically cleaning a surface of a fixture located in a toilet room, said toilet room having an interior defined by enclosing surfaces including vertical walls and a ceiling, said process comprising:

covering at least a part of the surface of said fixture with a thin film of photocatalytic semiconductor material;

disposing an electric lamp in the toilet room for emitting visible light with sufficient intensity to illuminate the toilet room with visible light, for emitting substantially no wavelength component of less than 300 nm and for emitting ultraviolet radiation having an energy higher than the band gap energy of said semiconductor materials in an amount effective to photoexcite said thin film; and

energizing said lamp to illuminate the toilet room with visible light and to simultaneously impinge said ultraviolet radiation upon said thin film with an intensity of 0.001-1 mW/cm², to thereby photoexcite said thin film with said ultraviolet radiation whereby contaminants deposited onto said fixture are photodecomposed as said lamp is energized.

22. A process according to claim 21 wherein said electric lamp is mounted on said ceiling.

23. A process for photocatalytically sterilizing a room having an interior defined by enclosing surfaces including vertical walls and a ceiling, said room being equipped with an electric lighting fixture, said lighting fixture being adapted to emit visible light rays for illuminating the room, and to emit ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength not less than 300 nm, said process comprising:

covering a part of the inner wall of said room with a thin film of photocatalytic semiconductor material; and

operating said lighting fixture to illuminate said room and to simultaneously impinge said ultraviolet radiation upon said thin film with an intensity of 0.001-1 mW/cm², to photoexcite said thin film with said ultraviolet radiation and to thereby photocatalytically destroy bacteria deposited on said thin film.

24. A process according to claim 23 wherein said electric lamp is mounted on said ceiling.