AIR TREATING METHOD USING PHOTOCATALYST UNDER INTERIOR ILLUMINATION

摘要

A method of treating with a photocatalyst the air in a bacteria-contaminated patient's room and a malodorous substance-floating room. A film of an optical catalyst consisting of a semiconductor, such as titanium dioxide is set on the inner surface of a wall of a patient's room or a dwelling room. The photocatalyst film is irradiated with the light from a general illuminating light source, such as a fluorescent lamp, and optically excited with a small quantity of ultraviolet rays contained in the light from the fluorescent lamp. The wattage of the fluorescent lamp and the distance between the photocatalyst film and fluorescent lamp are selectively determined so that the intensity of the ultraviolet rays the energy of which is not less than the band gap energy of the photocatalyst becomes 0.001-1 mW/cm<2>, preferably 0.01-0.1 mW/cm<2>. The bacteria and chemical compounds deposited on the optically excited film are photodecomposed.