Renewable Activated Carbon Filters Bearing Photocatalytic Particles for Volatile Organic Compound Removal

As interest in improving indoor air quality has increased, the development of long-lasting adsorbents that effectively and economically remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has become critical. In this study, TiO₂-bearing activated carbon is introduced as a photocatalytic adsorbent in a renewable VOC filter. The activated carbon filter bearing TiO₂ particles is prepared using the sol-gel method, followed by a spraying method. VOC adsorption and photocatalytic activity of the TiO₂-bearing activated carbon are analyzed using a Tedlar bag sampling technique, using toluene and acetaldehyde as sample of VOC gas. Under ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation for 22 h, the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ regenerates the VOC filters by 99 %. In addition, under UV-A and light-emitting diode, the TiO₂-bearing activated carbon filters are regenerated by 60 % and 58 %, respectively, after 22 h. This result establishes its practical applicability as a renewable indoor VOC filter.