Degradation of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons via a Light-Emitting Diode Derived Photocatalyst

In this study, the applicability of visible light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) to the photocatalytic degradation of indoor-level trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) over N-doped $TiO_2$ (N-$TiO_2$) was examined under a range of operational conditions. The N-$TiO_2$ photocatalyst was calcined at $650^{\circ}C$ (labeled N-650) showed the lowest degradation efficiencies for TCE and PCE, while the N-$TiO_2$ photocatalysts calcined at $350^{\circ}C$, $450^{\circ}C$, and $550^{\circ}C$ (labeled as N-350, N-450, and N-550, respectively) exhibited similar or slightly different degradation efficiencies to those of TCE and PCE. These results were supported by the X-ray diffraction patterns of N-350, N-450, N-550, and N-650. The respective average degradation efficiencies for TCE and PCE were 96% and 77% for the 8-W lamp/N-$TiO_2$ system, 32% and 20% for the violet LED/N-$TiO_2$ system, and ~0% and 4% for the blue LED/N-$TiO_2$ system. However, the normalized photocatalytic degradation efficiencies for TCE and PCE for the violet LED-irradiated N-$TiO_2$ system were higher than those from the 8-W fluorescent daylight lamp-irradiated N-$TiO_2$ system. Although the difference was not substantial, the degradation efficiencies exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing input concentrations. The degradation efficiencies for TCE and PCE decreased with increasing air flow rates. In general, the degradation efficiencies for both target compounds decreased as relative humidity increased. Consequently, it was indicated that violet LEDs can be utilized as energy-efficient light sources for the photocatalytic degradation of TCE and PCE, if operational conditions of N-$TiO_2$ photocatalytic system are optimized.