Removal of Gaseous Benzene by Photocatalytic Oxidation Process Using TiO2 Film Coated on Glass Sheets under UVC Irradiation

Benzene is well known as a toxic and carcinogenic air pollutant, which is mainly emitted from industrial processes, vehicles, and residential activities. TiO₂-based photocatalysis is becoming one of the most promising solutions for the treatment of benzene in the ambient air. The present study aims to investigate the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ film coated on glass sheets for the degradation of gaseous benzene under ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation. TiO₂ thin film coated glass sheets were prepared through polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-modified sol-gel method coupled with the doctor blade coating technique. It was found that the obtained TiO₂ film consisted of well-shaped TiO₂ particles with good adherents on a glass surface. There was no crack formation found in the film. The average film thickness was 1.187 µm. The maximum removal efficiency of benzene in the photocatalysis test was 4.5 and 6.4 times higher than that of the adsorption and direct photolytic tests, respectively, within 12 h. Moreover, the higher numbers of TiO₂ coated sheets, the higher photocatalytic benzene degradation, was obtained.