Unconventional methodologies and technologies aimed at monitoring pollution and improving the built environment

Main themes:

Photocatalysis

A line of research on photocatalytic materials began in 2002 with the participation in the European project PICADA, in which the Institute was responsible for the implementation of a prototypal system to measure the air depollution by photocatalytic materials, notably with reference to aromatic pollutants (BTEX). The development of the instrumental system was based on the long experience of the Institute in measuring organic volatile substances (VOC) in the air at environmental concentrations, typically of the order of parts per billion (ppb) and led to the implemetation of a first system based on a continous mixed flow photoreactor. This solution, which is more complex than the laminar-flow photoreactors or the batch photoreactors, made it possible to obtain reliable measurements of photocatalytic depollution activity under typical environmental conditions (with particular reference to temperature, damp, irradiation and concentration of pollutants). A line of research dedicated to the development of analytical techniques and tools for measuring depollution qualities of photocatalytic materials originated from the activity developed within the first poject. The results of this research line were described in specific publications. Currently the Photocatalysis laboratory, active in the Department of Materials Technology of ITC, has at disposal several dedicated analytical systems and is involved in projects and consultations with research Institutes, universities and industries in the field of building materials and products.

Publication

Photocatalysis LAB