Monolithic composite photocatalysts
OwnerMelissa A. Petruska, Jeffrey F. Roeder +4inventors
InventorsMelissa A. Petruska, Jeffrey F. Roeder, Trevor E. James, Peter C. Van Buskirk, Thomas S. Spoonmore, Robert T. Henderson, III
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Abstract
Monolithic composite photocatalysts for fluid purification are disclosed. The monolithic composite photocatalysts comprise a photoactive nanocrystal component and a non-photoactive porous support. Photocatalytic fluid purification systems that contact an impurity-containing fluid with the subject monolithic composite photocatalysts are also disclosed. The monolithic composite photocatalysts may be affixed to or embedded in scaffold structures to promote fluid flow through a fluid purification system and contact with the monolithic composite photocatalysts.
Claims15
A fluid purification system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of monolithic composite photocatalysts, each monolithic composite photocatalyst formed of
- a plurality of titania or titania-based photoactive nanocrystals disposed on a non-photoactive porous support,
- wherein further the plurality of the monolithic composite photocatalysts are
- disposed on a scaffold, and wherein at least 10% of each monolithic composite photocatalyst of the plurality protrudes above the surface of the scaffold or above an
- adhesion layer affixing the monolithic composite photocatalyst to the scaffold.
A fluid purification system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of monolithic composite photocatalysts, each monolithic composite photocatalyst formed of a plurality of titania or titania-based photoactive nanocrystals disposed on a non-photoactive porous support, wherein the plurality of the monolithic composite photocatalysts are further disposed on a scaffold, and further wherein greater than 10% of the total volume of each monolithic composite photocatalyst of the plurality is freely accessible to the fluid.
A fluid purification system comprising:
- a monolithic composite photocatalyst formed of a plurality of titania or titania-based photoactive nanocrystals disposed on a non-photoactive porous support, the monolithic composite photocatalyst disposed on a microfibrous media, wherein the microfibrous media is comprised of acrylic, silicone, or UV-A transparent glass and an illumination source for the fluid purification system includes the wavelength range 365-385 nm, thereby causing photocatalysis in the monolithic composite photocatalyst.
A fluid purification system comprising:
- a plurality of monolithic composite photocatalysts, each monolithic composite photocatalyst formed of a plurality of titania or titania-based photoactive nanocrystals disposed on a non-photoactive porous support, wherein the plurality of the monolithic composite photocatalysts are disposed between a first and second scaffold and are thus retained therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.