P2

STRUCTURE AND POTENTIAL ROLE OF ATMOSPHERIC NANOPARTICLES IN PHOTOCATALYTIC AND THERMAL PRODUCTION OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANTS

The aerosols consist of two intermixed components. The first component is an amorphous carbonaceous material of variable composition with "fullerene like" materials dispersed throughout. The second component is an inorganic material consisting of nanoparticles of oxides and sulfides "supported" on clay minerals. This inorganic component has all of the characteristics of an airborne photocatalyst. Nanoparticles of Fe203, MnO2, and FeS2 have demonstrated catalytic properties, particularly when occurring in the nanoparticle range as they do in aerosol materials.

These materials have band-gaps which occur in the broad solar spectrum enhancing the photocatalytic adsorption of solar radiation beyond that of the wider band-gap aluminosilicate and titanate materials which also occur in the aerosols. In addition, the materials are acidic and probably are coated with moisture when suspended in air, further enhancing their catalytic ability to crack hydrocarbons and create free radicals.

Key words: nanoparticles, photocatalysis, aerosols