EPFL

 

Partner Name:

EPFL

 

Website:

www.epfl.ch

 

Contact Person:

  • Prof. Cesar Pulgarin
  • Dr. John Kiwi

 

Description of the Partner activities

- Mechanistic studies by way of Advanced Oxidation Process, studies involving AOP, i.e. electrochemical, TiO2 photo-assisted, ultrasound, photo-Fenton) and development of synergic coupling between AOP to be used in the degradation of chemical and biological pollutants in water and air. Coupling of AOP and biological systems for industrial wastewaters treatment

-Design, preparation, chemical characterization, activity evaluation and mechanistic description of nanomaterials presenting photocatalytic activity for environmental applications

- Development of supported self-cleaning and self-disinfecting (photo) active materials. The C. Pulgarin laboratory has at the EPFL all the required machines, reactors and technical and analytical support for facing the tasks assumed in this proposal.

- EPFL will address nanocomposite preparation by DC-sputtering, DCP-sputtering, HIPIMS sputtering and spin coating of diverse surfaces of photocatalytic films. Pre-treatment by RF-plasma, UVC irradiation of surfaces to achieve uniform films on: Polyethylene, polyester, glass wool and flexible inorganic titania silica films for the destruction of industrial pollutants and pathogens at the solid–air interface and at a later stage in aqueous solutions.

 

Involved personnel:

  • Prof. Cesar Pulgarin
  • Dr. John Kiwi
  • Sami Rtimi (student)
  • Jelena Nesic (student)

 

Role of the Partner in LIMPID

Preparation of double oxides semiconductor, like TiO2/ZrO2, TiO2/TaO2 coated/doped with highly oxidizing nano-metal particles of Ag, Cu, Au, Pd to increase the absorption in the visible and avoid the charge recombination on large-gap semiconductor during the degradation of bacteria and recalcitrant pollutants.

Sputtering of TiO2 films and coating/doping them with them Ag and Cu. Sputtering of films with Ag/Cu to accelerate: a) inactivation of E. coli and MRSA in the dark and under light b) the degradation of phenol/4-chlorophenol (laboratory scale under solar simulated irradiation).

Optimize the sputtering of the materials on polyester textiles, and transparent polymer films 60-100 microns like polyethylene during bacteria inactivation or degrade non-biodegradable pollutants.

Cooperate on novel photocatalytic polymer testing.

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