Photocatalysis assisted simultaneous carbon oxidation and NOx reduction.

Photocatalysis assisted oxidation of carbon black was performed using TiO 2 photocatalyst under UV illumination in an atmosphere with NO, O 2 and water vapor at 150 °C. Carbon is oxidized mainly to CO 2 while NO is selectively converted to N 2 . Enhanced O 2 and NO concentrations have a positive effect on the carbon oxidation rate. At a concentration of 3000 ppm NO and 13.3% O 2 in the gas phase the carbon oxidation rate reaches 2.3 μg carbon /mg TiO2 h, at a formal electron/photon quantum efficiency of 0.019. HR SEM images reveal uniform gradual reduction of the carbon particle size irrespective of the distance to TiO 2 photocatalyst particles in the presence of NO, O 2 and H 2 O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]