A special catalyst-coated lampshade utilizes the heat emitted from incandescent bulbs to eliminate pollutants in indoor air. Image Credit: Minhyung Lee
Researchers have created lampshades that turn harmful indoor air contaminants into benign substances by harnessing the waste heat generated by light bulbs. They are also planning to modify this innovation for LED technology.
Indoor air contamination may have found its solution. A team of scientists has engineered lampshades coated with a catalyst that changes indoor air pollutants into innocuous substances. These lampshades are compatible with halogen and incandescent bulbs, and efforts are underway to make the technology work with LEDs as well.
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Unveiling Pioneering Research
The scientists showcased their findings at the American Chemical Society (ACS) fall meeting, where ACS Fall 2023 hosted around 12,000 presentations on a diverse array of scientific subjects.
Attacking Noxious Compounds
The focus of these lampshades is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), responsible for the majority of indoor airborne impurities, according to the project’s lead researcher, Hyoung-il Kim, Ph.D. This category includes substances like acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, emitted by products like paints, cleaning agents, air fresheners, plastics, furnishings, cooking, and more.
Kim emphasizes that while VOC concentrations indoors may be low, they can accumulate as people typically spend over 90% of their time inside.
Traditional VOC removal from indoor air has depended on activated carbon or other filter types that need regular replacement, notes Minhyung Lee, a graduate student at Yonsei University working under Kim. Lee will be discussing the team’s efforts at the ACS meeting. Existing devices using thermocatalysts or photocatalysts need separate heat or ultraviolet (UV) light sources and may produce undesired byproducts. Kim’s team aimed for a simpler method requiring only a visible light source, like a halogen or incandescent bulb, coupled with a thermocatalyst-coated lampshade.
Utilizing Waste Heat
A mere 10% of the energy consumed by halogen bulbs turns into light, with the remaining 90% converted into heat, states Lee. Incandescent bulbs are even less efficient, with 95% heat emission. “This heat is generally lost,” says Kim, “but we chose to use it to activate a thermocatalyst to break down VOCs.”
In a paper published previously, the researchers revealed the synthesis of thermocatalysts composed of titanium dioxide and a trace of platinum. They applied this catalyst inside an aluminum lampshade and tested it with a 100-watt halogen bulb and air containing acetaldehyde. The lamp’s heat activated the catalyst, decomposing the acetaldehyde through an oxidation process into harmless compounds, including carbon dioxide and water. They also discovered the method works on formaldehyde and with incandescent bulbs.
“This is the first application of lamp waste heat,” Kim declares, contrasting it to earlier efforts relying on light-triggered photocatalysts to combat indoor air pollution.
Future Directions and Innovations
Kim’s team is currently exploring more affordable alternatives to platinum, demonstrating that iron- or copper-based catalysts can break down VOCs. Copper’s disinfectant properties may also kill airborne microbes.
They are now focusing on adapting the air-purifying lampshade design to LEDs, a rapidly expanding segment of the lighting market. Since LEDs emit insufficient heat to activate thermocatalysts, the team is developing photocatalysts responsive to near-UV light from LEDs and other catalysts that convert some of the LEDs’ visible light into heat.
“The ultimate aim is to create a hybrid catalyst that can exploit the entire spectrum of light sources, including UV and visible light, in addition to waste heat,” Kim asserts.
Meeting: ACS Fall 2023
The research received backing and financial support from various South Korean government bodies, including the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Title
Indoor Waste Heat-Driven Thermocatalytic Oxidation of VOCs
Abstract
The increase in time spent indoors due to modernization and severe air pollution (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, fine dust, airborne microorganisms, and VOCs) has highlighted the need for effective air purification. Many pollutants are more concentrated indoors than outdoors due to limited air circulation. Traditional methods of VOC removal have relied on activated carbon or filters, requiring periodic replacement, or other technologies involving additional equipment.
Here, we present a novel thermocatalysis system that leverages waste heat from indoor lamps (such as halogen, incandescent, sodium, and metal halide lamps). We used Pt-TiO2, a catalyst that can demonstrate high activity by embedding a small amount of platinum nanoparticles on the TiO2 surface. This catalyst can absorb and remove high concentrations of VOC even at room temperature and convert it into harmless CO2 at the low heating temperature of indoor bulbs (120 °C). By applying the thermocatalyst to an indoor lampshade, we have developed an environmentally friendly system to eliminate VOCs without extra heating devices. This proposed method offers a sustainable and practical solution for indoor VOC removal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: lampshades
What technology have researchers developed to combat indoor air pollution?
Researchers have designed catalyst-coated lampshades that utilize waste heat from incandescent or halogen light bulbs to transform indoor air pollutants into harmless compounds. They are also working on adapting this technology to be compatible with LEDs.
How do these specially designed lampshades work?
The lampshades are coated with thermocatalysts, which are activated by the heat generated from the light bulbs. This heat initiates a chemical reaction that breaks down volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into benign substances like carbon dioxide and water.
Why are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) a concern?
VOCs are harmful compounds released by common household items like paints, cleaners, and plastics. Although present in low concentrations, continuous exposure can be harmful, as people often spend more than 90% of their time indoors.
What are the future plans for this technology?
The team is exploring more affordable catalyst alternatives, such as iron or copper, and looking for ways to extend the concept to LEDs, which is a growing segment of the lighting market. Their ultimate aim is to develop a hybrid catalyst that can utilize the full spectrum of light, including UV and visible light, as well as waste heat.
How does this method differ from traditional VOC removal techniques?
Traditional VOC removal methods rely on activated carbon or filters that need periodic replacement. Some methods require additional equipment like heaters or UV light sources. The newly developed lampshades offer a simpler and more sustainable approach by using waste heat from lamps without the need for additional devices.
5 comments
finally something practical from the science world, gotta love innovation like this. will they be making these for homes soon.
Is this safe though? what if something goes wrong? still cool though.
I always hated those ugly energy-saving bulbs, now theres a real reason to use the old ones, nice.
no more air purifiers, just use ur lamps. Thats pretty clever must say.
Wow this is amazing stuff! can’t believe lampshades could do this, where can i get one of these?