Human Health Risk Assessment of the Photocatalytic Oxidation of BTEX over TiO2/Volcanic Glass


Smaiyl M. Tulebekov Y. Nurpeisov N. Satybaldiyev B. Snow D.D. Uralbekov B.
December 2023Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Molecules
2023#28Issue 24

This study demonstrates rapid photocatalytic oxidation of a benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) mixture over TiO2/volcanic glass. The assessment of the photocatalytic oxidation of BTEX was conducted under conditions simulating those found in indoor environments affected by aromatic hydrocarbon release. We show, under UV-A intensities of 15 mW/cm2 and an air flow rate of 55 m3/h, that low ppmv levels of BTEX concentrations can be reduced to below detectable levels. Solid-phase microextraction technique was employed to monitor the levels of BTEX in the test chamber throughout the photocatalytic oxidation, lasting approximately 21 h. Destruction of BTEX from the gas phase was observed in the following sequence: o-xylene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and benzene. This study identified sequential degradation of BTEX, in combination with the stringent regulatory level set for benzene, resulted in the air quality hazard indexes (Total Hazard Index and Hazard Quotient) remaining relatively high during the process of photocatalytic oxidation. In the practical application of photocatalytic purification, it is crucial to account for the slower oxidation kinetics of benzene. This is of particular importance due to not only its extremely low exposure limits, but also due to the classification of benzene as a Group 1 carcinogenic compound by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Our study underscores the importance of taking regulatory considerations into account when using photocatalytic purification technology.

BTEX , hazard index , photocatalytic oxidation , TiO2 photocatalyst

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Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050012, Kazakhstan
LLP «EcoRadSM», Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan
Water Sciences Laboratory, Nebraska Water Center, Part of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 68583, NE, United States

Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis
LLP «EcoRadSM»
Water Sciences Laboratory

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