PTR-MS assessment of photocatalytic and sorption-based purification of recirculated cabin air during simulated 7-h flights with high passenger density.

Full Abstract

Four different air purification conditions were established in a simulated 3-row 21-seat section of an aircraft cabin:
no air purifier; a photocatalytic oxidation unit with an adsorptive prefilter; a second photocatalytic unit with an adsorptive prefilter; and a two-stage sorption-based air filter (gas-phase absorption and adsorption). The air purifiers placed in the cabin air recirculation system were commercial prototypes developed for use in aircraft cabin systems. The four conditions were established in balanced order on 4 successive days of each of 4 successive weeks during simulated 7-h flights with 17 occupants. Proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometry was used to assess organic gas-phase pollutants and the performance of each air purifier. The concentration of most organic pollutants present in aircraft cabin air was efficiently reduced by all three units. The photocatalytic units were found to incompletely oxidize ethanol released by the wet wipes commonly supplied with airline mealsto produce unacceptably high levels of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde.

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Author information

Author/s: Wisthaler, Armin (A); Strøm-Tejsen, Peter (P); Fang, Lei (L); Arnaud, Timothy J (TJ); Hansel, Armin (A); Märk, Tilmann D (TD); Wyon, David P (DP);

Affiliation: Institut für Ionenphysik, Leopold-Franzens- Universität Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. armin.wisthaler(-atsign-)uibk.ac.at

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Environmental science & technology (Environ Sci Technol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jan; vol 41 (issue 1) : pp 229-34

Dates: Created 2007/02/01; Completed 2007/03/01;

PMID: 17265952, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adsorption
Air Movements
Air Pollution, Indoor - analysis; prevention & control
Aircraft
Catalysis

Ethanol - analysis; chemistry
Mass Spectrometry
Photochemistry - methods
Time Factors
Ventilation - instrumentation; methods

Associated Chemicals: Ethanol (64-17-5)

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