Photochemical Air Treatment Development

柳叶刀污染与健康委员会最近的一份报告指出，全球每年有超过650万人死于空气污染；有害的大气排放也是气候变化和平流层臭氧消耗的原因之一。需要新的科学和工程方法的空气排放来源之一是医院和类似场所，它们从外科和产科设施排放一氧化二氮(N2O)和卤化麻醉气体，通常没有任何控制。这些排放既是温室气体，又是臭氧消耗，可能会导致空气质量恶化。目前的控制选择有限或需要高温，这使得它们在经济上对普通用途不具吸引力，而且对替代方法知之甚少。该研究计划的目标是检查控制这些排放和降解气体的光化学方法。光化学方法的优点是在环境温度下有效。然而，在这些化合物中使用光催化剂或紫外光分解方法的信息或经验有限，特别是在实际操作条件下。该计划将使用几种不同的光催化剂和各种操作条件来探索这些方法的使用，以确定在哪些条件下这可能是一种可行的方法。将产生关于替代处理概念的光化学和物理化学行为的基本知识，用于概念设计和理解，这种知识将扩展到一系列其他类似的排放控制问题。其中一个关键方面将是部分侧重于还原处理，而不是对其中一些气体进行更常见的氧化处理。在光化学、空气质量、排放控制工艺设计和新材料开发领域，将为多达10名学生提供唯一的培训机会。毕业后，这些学生将能够为各种工业部门对新的和改进的排放控制策略的迫切需求做出贡献，经验表明，对具有这些技能的人员有需求。在这项研究计划期间和之后，我们还将为新方法的潜在商业化作出贡献，并鼓励这些商业化活动。这些商业化活动将有助于改善当地空气质量，减少温室气体排放，并为加拿大新的商业发展和增加就业提供机会。

A recent report by The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health attributes over 6.5 million deaths per year worldwide due to air pollution; harmful atmospheric emissions are also contributing to climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion. One source of air emissions that is in need of novel scientific and engineering approaches is hospitals and similar sites, which emit nitrous oxide (N2O) and halogenated anesthetic gases from surgical and maternity facilities, usually without any controls. These emissions are both greenhouse gases and ozone depleting, and can contribute to deterioration of air quality. Current options for control are limited or require high temperatures which makes them economically unattractive for common use, and relatively little is known about alternative approaches.The goal of this research program is to examine photochemical approaches to controlling these emissions and degrading the gases. Photochemical methods have the advantage of being effective at ambient temperatures. However, there is limited information or experience with using photocatalysts or UV photolysis methods with these compounds, especially under realistic operating conditions. This program will explore the use of these approaches using several different photocatalysts and a variety of operating conditions, to identify conditions under which this might be a feasible approach. Fundamental knowledge on the photochemical and the physical-chemistry behaviour of alternative treatment concepts will be generated for use in conceptual design and understanding, and this knowledge will be extendable to a range of other similar emission control problems. One key aspect will be a partial focus on reductive treatment rather than the more common oxidative treatment of some of these gases.Unique training opportunities for up to 10 students will be provided in the areas of photochemistry, air quality, emission control process design and novel materials development. After graduation, these students will be able to contribute to the urgent need for new and improved emission control strategies across a wide variety of industrial sectors, and experience has shown that there is a demand for personnel with these skills. Contributions to potential commercialization of new approaches will also be made and encouraged during and beyond this research program.Such commercialization activities will assist with local air quality improvements, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and provide opportunities for novel Canadian business developments and increased employment.