Photodegradation of VOCs by Using TiO$_2$-Coated POF

광촉매가 코팅된 플라스틱 광섬유을 이용한 VOC 광분해반응

In this study plastic optical fibers (POFs) were considered as light-transmitting media and substrates for the potential use in photocatalytic environmental purification system. After the characteristics of POFs in terms of light transmittance and absorption were determined at the beginning, the further investigation was performed through the photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE), iso-propanol and etc. with TiO$_2$-coated optical fiber reactor systems (POFR). It is concluded that the use of POFs is preferred to quartz optical fibers (QOFs) since the advantages such as ease of handling, lower cost, relatively reasonable light attenuation at the wavelength of near 400nm can be obtained. Various geometrical reactor shapes have been constructed and applied for the last one and half years. For the use of POF in water phase treatment, however, more detailed scientific and engineering aspects should be envisaged. This case requires a suitable mixture to obtain more stable and innocuous immobilization of photocatalyst on POF. To overcome this disadvantage, metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) was conducted in a fluidized bed to deposit thin films of titania on glass and alumina beads. Those can be used as photocatalysis for the removal of pollutants especially in liquid phases.