The Use of Zeolite and Oxidant Generating Devices in Air Cleaning

Abstract

This paper presents the effects of combining a zeolite filter with an oxidant-generating device to remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from air. Two types of synthetic zeolites were tested. The sources of VOCs used in the tests were acetone and dried shark fins. Dried shark fins are commonly used in Chinese cooking and they emit amine related compounds with a notorious smell. Experiments were conducted under various conditions in an experimental chamber. Results indicate that combining the zeolite filter with an ozone generator or an ioniser resulted in a faster rate of depletion of VOCs than using either device alone. The effectiveness of the VOC removal is related to the pore size of the zeolite. Zeolite with a larger pore size is capable of adsorbing both the oxidants and the pollutant molecules into the same cavity, which allows catalytic oxidation reaction to occur inside the confined space of the zeolite.