Adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation of acetone and diethyl sulfide on FeOOH aerosol

Superfine FeOOH powder in an aerosol state with a particle size of about 3 nm has been studied in the processes of reactive adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation of acetone and diethyl sulfide vapors in air. The aerosol (5 g) is sprayed with a Helmholtz resonator placed into the center of a 100-L plastic chamber. Spraying is completed in 2 min, and the aerosol settles down within a time of less than 5 min. Rapid partial adsorption of acetone and diethyl sulfide on aerosol nanoparticles with characteristic times of 1 and 1.3 min, respectively, has been observed. FeOOH exhibits no photocatalytic activity with respect to acetone oxidation. Diethyl sulfide is oxidized with the formation of acetaldehyde as an intermediate product and CO and CO₂ as the final products.