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Portable photocatalytic air cleaners: efficiencies and by-product generation

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Abstract

Portable photocatalytic air cleaners were investigated in 24 and 48 m3 emission test chambers with regard to efficiency and by-product generation. For this purpose, formaldehyde, decane, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, toluene, α-pinene and heptanal were doped at sub-ppm concentration levels into the chambers individually and in mixtures. By way of specified test protocols, efficiencies could be distinguished but were strongly dependant on the choice of test compounds, especially on whether single or multi compound dosing was used, and on long-term effects. Initial clean air delivery rates (CADRs) up to 137 m3/h were measured. Typical by-products were found in significant concentrations. The main ones were formaldehyde up to 50 ppb (62 μg/m3) and acetone up to 80 ppb (190 μg/m3). Other aldehydes were also found, but at smaller levels. The detection of chloroacetone, a strong irritating compound, at concentrations up to 15 ppb (57 μg/m3) strengthens the importance of such investigations especially in cases were chloro-organic compounds are involved.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully thank the Beijing Municipal Institute for Labour Protection (BMLIP) for financial support of this investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fraunhofer WKI, Bienroder Weg 54E, 38108, Braunschweig, Germany

    Jan Gunschera, Doreen Markewitz, Birger Bansen & Tunga Salthammer

  2. Beijing Academy of Science and Technology (BJAST), No.27, W.3rd Ring Rd North, Beijing, 100089, China

    Hui Ding

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  1. Jan Gunschera
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  2. Doreen Markewitz
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  3. Birger Bansen
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  4. Tunga Salthammer
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Correspondence to Jan Gunschera.

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Gunschera, J., Markewitz, D., Bansen, B. et al. Portable photocatalytic air cleaners: efficiencies and by-product generation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 7482–7493 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5992-3

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