SBIR Phase I: Polyoxometalate Fabric Catalysts to Improve Indoor Air Quality

这个小企业创新研究一期项目将开发催化剂，通过室温催化氧化污染物来改善室内空气质量。最初的重点将集中在甲醛的氧化。甲醛被列为一种可能的人类致癌物，研究表明，许多家庭和企业中的甲醛含量超过了建议水平。甲醛的来源包括建筑和家具中使用的许多材料，环境中的烟草烟雾，以及室内和室外的燃烧源。室内甲醛的理想解决方案是催化，室温有氧氧化成二氧化碳和水。TDA研究公司与埃默里大学克雷格·希尔教授的研究小组合作，提出开发甲醛氧化的多金属氧酸盐（POM）催化剂。催化剂将被支持在织物上，可以包括在窗帘、软垫家具和办公室隔间使用的面板上。先前的研究表明，织物支撑的聚甲醛可以在环境温度下催化O2氧化几种相关化合物。评估这些催化剂的第一阶段研究将借助TDA之前开发的高通量测试设备，这将使我们能够测试大量的催化剂系统。由于多金属氧酸盐价格低廉，而且室温催化不需要能量输入，因此一个成功的项目将产生一个简单的系统来改善室内空气质量。这个系统应该会被许多家用和商用产品的制造商所接受。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop catalysts to improve indoor air quality by the room temperature catalytic oxidation of pollutants. Initial focus will concentrate on the oxidation of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is classified as a probable human carcinogen and studies have shown it is present in many homes and businesses at levels exceeding recommendation levels. Formaldehyde sources include many materials used in construction and furnishings, environmental tobacco smoke, and both indoor and outdoor combustion sources. The ideal solution to indoor formaldehyde would be catalytic, room temperature aerobic oxidation to carbon dioxide and water. TDA Research, Inc., in collaboration with the research group of Prof. Craig Hill at Emory University, proposes to develop polyoxometalate (POM) catalysts for formaldehyde oxidation. The catalysts will be supported on fabrics, and could be included in draperies, upholstered furniture, and panels used in office cubicles. Previous work has shown that fabric-supported POMs can catalyze the oxidation of several related compounds by O2 at ambient temperature. The Phase I research to evaluate these catalysts will be aided by use of a high-throughput test apparatus, previously developed at TDA, which will allow us to test a large number of catalyst systems.Because polyoxometalates are inexpensive and because room temperature catalysis requires no energy input, a successful project will lead to an simple system to improve indoor air quality. This system should find ready acceptance by manufacturers of many products used in both homes and businesses.