Photocatalytic Oxidation of PCE and Butyraldehyde over Titania Modified with Perovskite Optical Crystal BaTiO3

Photocatalysis utilizes near‐UV or visible light to break down organic pollutants into innocuous compounds at room temperatures. This paper introduces the use of semiconducting optical crystals as an additive to a photocatalyst. The perovskite optical material BaTiO3 (band gap of 3.7–3.8 eV) is found to increase VOC destruction when black light is used. The best composition found is 0.1 wt % BaTiO3 with the balance being TiO2. This photocatalyst increases tetrachloroethylene (PCE) conversion by 12 % to 32 % for space times between 1.4 and 17.2 seconds and inlet concentrations of 40 to 130 ppm with a 4 W black light. The average enhancement is approximately 25 %. For butyraldehyde conversion the maximum enhancement is 20 % at 130 ppm in 3.6 seconds. The UV/VIS spectroscopy data indicate a lower absorbance with the additive. The reaction parameters studied are space velocity, inlet concentration and light source. Oxidation by‐products are identified using a GCMS. Photocatalysis utilizes near‐UV or visible light to break down organic pollutants into innocuous compounds at room temperatures. Two types of reactors have been used to demonstrate the effect of the perovskite optical material BaTiO3 added catalyst over the pure TiO2 catalyst.