Atmospheric nanoparticles in photocatalytic and thermal production of atmospheric pollutants
- Univ. of Texas, El Paso, TX (United States). Chemistry Dept.
- Univ. Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City (Mexico). Inst. de Fisica
Atmospheric aerosols which occur above heavily polluted areas such as Mexico City are characterized and found to be complex materials which have the potential to accelerate important ozone-forming reactions photocatalytically and thermocatalytically. In addition, because the particles are respirable, they represent a considerable health hazard. The aerosols consist of two intermixed components. The first component consists of amorphous carbonaceous materials of variable composition with fullerene like materials dispersed throughout. The second component is an inorganic material consisting of nanoparticles of oxides and sulfides supported on clay minerals. This inorganic component has all of the characteristics of an airborne photocatalyst. Nanoparticles of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, MnO{sub 2} and FeS{sub 2} have demonstrated catalytic properties, particularly when occurring in the nanoparticle range as they do in the subject aerosol materials. These materials have band-gaps which occur in the broad solar spectrum enhancing the photocatalytic adsorption of solar radiation beyond that of the wider band-gap aluminosilicate and titanate materials which also occur in the aerosols. In addition, the materials are acidic and probably are coated with moisture when suspended in air, further enhancing the catalytic ability to crack hydrocarbons and create free radicals.
- OSTI ID:
- 585775
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9705104-; TRN: IM9810%%26
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 12. Annual conference on hazardous waste remediation, Kansas City, MO (United States), 20-22 May 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 12. annual conference on hazardous waste research. Building partnerships for innovative technologies; Erickson, L.E.; Rankin, M.M.; Grant, S.C.; McDonald, J.P. [eds.]; PB: 586 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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