From nano to micrometer size particles - A characterization of airborne cement particles during construction activities.

Although, photocatalytic cement contains nanosized TiO2, a possibly carcinogen, no exposure assessments exist for construction workers. We characterized airborne nanoparticle exposures during construction activities simulated in an exposure chamber. We collected some construction site samples for regular cement in Switzerland and Thailand for comparison. Airborne nanoparticles were characterized using scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), portable aerosol spectrometer (PAS), diffusion size classifier (DiSCmini), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and X-ray diffraction. Bagged photocatalytic cement had 2.0 wt% (GSD ± 0.55) TiO2, while TiO2 in aerosols reached 16.5 wt% (GSD ± 1.72) during bag emptying and 9.7 wt% (GSD ± 1.36) after sweeping. The airborne photocatalytic cement particles were far smaller (approximately 50 nm) compared to regular cement. Cutting blocks made from photocatalytic cement or concrete, resulted in similar amounts of airborne nano TiO2 (2.0 wt% GSD ± 0.57) particles as in bagged material. Both photocatalytic and regular cement had a geometric mean diameter (GMD) < 3.5 µm. Main exposures for Thai workers were during sweeping and Swiss workers during drilling and polishing cement blocks. Targeted nanoparticle exposure assessments are needed as a significantly greater exposure to nano TiO2 were observed than what would have been predicted from the material's nano- TiO2 contents.

Photocatalytic properties, mechanical strength and durability of TiO2/cement composites prepared by a spraying method for removal of organic pollutants.

TiO2/cement composites were prepared by a spraying method to degrade organic pollutants. After coated with waterproof liquid, pure cement pastes/mortars were sprayed with TiO2 suspensions with different TiO2 contents and spraying times. Photocatalytic properties, mechanical strength and durability were studied. Maximum photocatalytic activity and uniform TiO2 distribution were achieved at the optimal conditions of 10 wt% TiO2 content in suspension and 3 spraying times. The TiO2/cement pastes had better degradation performance over Rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) than that over methyl orange (MO). After 20 times of cycling degradation, the photocatalytic efficiencies had no significant reduction. The TiO2/cement mortars had good mechanical strengths, meeting the mechanical demands of wastewater treatment tanks. In durability, the TiO2/cement mortars had better water penetration resistance, chloride penetration resistance and anti-carbonation than pure cement mortars.

Preparation and Characterization of Zeolite/TiO2 Cement-Based Composites with Excellent Photocatalytic Performance.

A zeolite/TiO2 composite (ZTC) was applied to prepare a high-quality photocatalytic cement-based material (PCM). The acetone degradation experiment and micro measurements including XRD(X-Ray Diffractometer), SEM-EDS(Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectrometer), BET(BET Specific Surface Area Tester), FTIR(Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer) were conducted to characterize the photocatalytic efficiency and physicochemical properties of PCM, respectively. Results show that TiO2 particles disperse on the surface of a PCM homogeneously and provide abundant active sites for photocatalytic reactions. Compared to a normal photocatalytic cement-based material (NPCM), the TiO2 content of a PCM is lower and its photocatalytic efficiency is higher. The ZTC frees TiO2 particles from the impacts of cement hydration products and increases the adsorption volume of acetone. The photocatalytic performance of the PCM was stable after repeated tests. Using the ZTC as a photocatalyst has a prominent effect on the photocatalytic performance of the PCM.

Environmental exposure to TiO2 nanomaterials incorporated in building material.

Nanomaterials are increasingly being used to improve the properties and functions of common building materials. A new type of self-cleaning cement incorporating TiO2 nanomaterials (TiO2-NMs) with photocatalytic properties is now marketed. This promising cement might provide air pollution-reducing properties but its environmental impact must be validated. During cement use and aging, an altered surface layer is formed that exhibits increased porosity. The surface layer thickness alteration and porosity increase with the cement degradation rate. The hardened cement paste leaching behavior has been fully documented, but the fate of incorporated TiO2-NMs and their state during/after potential release is currently unknown. In this study, photocatalytic cement pastes with increasing initial porosity were leached at a lab-scale to produce a range of degradation rates concerning the altered layer porosity and thickness. No dissolved Ti was released during leaching, only particulate TiO2-NM release was detected. The extent of release from this batch test simulating accelerated worst-case scenario was limited and ranged from 18.7 ± 2.1 to 33.5 ± 5.1 mg of Ti/m2 of cement after 168 h of leaching. TiO2-NMs released into neutral aquatic media (simulate pH of surface water) were not associated or coated by cement minerals. The TiO2-NM release mechanism is suspected to start from freeing of TiO2-NMs in the altered layer pore network due to partial cement paste dissolution followed by diffusion into the bulk pore solution to the surface. The extent of TiO2-NM release was not solely related to the cement degradation rate.