Ecological efficiency photocatalytic concrete

Abstract

The process of urbanization is accompanied by the formation of a high density of street highways, buildings, people, transport and industrial enterprises, high energy consumption, an increase in the amount of waste and the release of a large amount of pollutants into the atmosphere and the aquatic environment. Air pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems in cities and poses a threat to vegetation, animals, materials and human health. One of the main environmental pollutants is nitrogen oxides (NOx). Finding ways to remove NOx from the surrounding air is a necessity today, as it will help to improve the ecology of large cities, as well as reduce O3 concentration at ground level. Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is a natural semiconductor material that is widely used in many industries. In construction, titanium dioxide is used to create building materials with a self-cleaning surface. In recent years, a fairly powerful photocatalytic effect of surfaces with titanium dioxide has been discovered. Self-cleaning combined with the photocatalytic effect of TiO2 makes it an ideal additive in the production of building materials for urban environments. Depending on the application, TiO2 can be used as a coating, additive in concrete, gypsum or paint. TiO2 can be used for surfaces of paving elements or building facades, retaining walls, tunnels. In this paper, we study the effect of the addition of titanium dioxide on the formation of the physicochemical properties of concrete.