engleski

Environmental impact of immobilized titanium dioxide on rubber tiles made from recycled tyres for passive air protection by solar photocatalysis

The main idea of this paper was to achieve the synergistic action between immobilized photocatalyst on recycled rubber and solar radiation (hereafter: photocatalytic rubber tiles, PRT). This would allow triggers redox reactions on the surface of photocatalysts which successfully remove volatile organic compounds, unpleasant odours, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, ammonia, etc. [1]. According to, this paper presents the experimental results of commercially available TiO2 P25 immobilized on recycled rubber substrates and their possible impact on the environment. Initial method of immobilization is the modified sol – gel method and as a photocatalyst, titanium dioxide was used [2]. Several such immobilizations were made to select the best ratio of photocatalyst in solution and to ensure that the process had a positive impact on the environment, as shown in the Graphical Illustration. The next methods include mixing the photocatalyst directly into the reference compound of the rubber substrate and sieving titanium dioxide powder on a reference rubber substrate before compressing the mixture. Stability and environmental impact of PRT were investigated by leaching test and AAS and TOC analyses. Characterization of PRT in terms of crystal structure and morphology was investigated by SEM/EDS mapping and FTIR analysis. Figure 1. shows microscopic magnification 100x of sample of 2 grams of TiO2 that confirmed the existence of particles in the deepest layer of rubber substrate. Also, impact of dye addition on the environmental impact, morphology and stability of the PRT was investigated. Photocatalytic tests were done in simulated polluted atmosphere to confirm the PRT activity as new photocatalytic material Successful immobilization of titanium dioxide on the reference rubber substrate was achieved and the PRT proved to be the most effective in terms of photocatalytic air purification even at the lowest dosage of TiO2. Leaching tests of PRT shown as simulation of natural leaching in laboratory.

titanium dioxide, photocatalysis, recycled rubber, air purification, environmental impact

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