A study of the photocatalytic destruction of propylene using microwave discharge electrodeless lamp

A microwave discharge electrodeless lamp (MDEL) was used as the light source for microwave-assisted TiO2 photo-catalysis to degrade propylene. A MDEL filled with low pressure mercury gas has been developed for the photocatalytic treatment of air pollutants over TiO2 balls. TiO2 balls used were produced by the low pressure metal organic chemical vapor deposition method. With increasing microwave power, the degradation efficiency of propylene increased resulting in increased production of CO2, H2O, and CO. It is proposed that propylene is degraded by MDEL and photocatalysts into CH4 and C2H6, which are then mineralized into CO2, H2O, and CO. C2H2 is suggested to be produced from CH4 or C2H6 by microwave.