Photocatalytic air treatment process under room light
First Claim
1. A room having a photocatalytic function, said room comprising:
- enclosing surfaces including vertical walls, a floor and a ceiling defining an interior for the room;
a thin film of a photocatalytic semiconductor material having a band gap energy and covering at least a part of the enclosing surfaces of the room;
an electric lamp mounted on one of said enclosing surfaces in a position whereby said semiconductor material is in a light receiving relationship with said lamp, said lamp being an electric lamp for general lighting applications emitting a visible light for illumination and at least a small amount of ultraviolet radiation within the wavelength range between 300 nm and the wavelength corresponding to the band gap energy of said semiconductor material, the wattage of said electric lamp and the distance between said semiconductor material and said lamp being such that, when said lamp is energized, the total incident light intensity, impinging upon said semiconductor material, of said ultraviolet radiation within said wavelength range is 0.001 to 1 mW/cm2.
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Accused Products
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 the 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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A room having a photocatalytic function, said room comprising:
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enclosing surfaces including vertical walls, a floor and a ceiling defining an interior for the room; a thin film of a photocatalytic semiconductor material having a band gap energy and covering at least a part of the enclosing surfaces of the room; an electric lamp mounted on one of said enclosing surfaces in a position whereby said semiconductor material is in a light receiving relationship with said lamp, said lamp being an electric lamp for general lighting applications emitting a visible light for illumination and at least a small amount of ultraviolet radiation within the wavelength range between 300 nm and the wavelength corresponding to the band gap energy of said semiconductor material, the wattage of said electric lamp and the distance between said semiconductor material and said lamp being such that, when said lamp is energized, the total incident light intensity, impinging upon said semiconductor material, of said ultraviolet radiation within said wavelength range is 0.001 to 1 mW/cm2. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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- 15. A glazed ceramic bathroom fixture selected from the group consisting of urinals, wash basins and toilet bowls, said bathroom fixture having a surface at least partially covered with a thin film of a photocatalytic semiconductor material.
- 18. A glazed ceramic tile having a surface at least partially covered with a thin film of a photocatalytic semiconductor material.
Specification