01337433

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2240-04

http://scholar.google.com...ight&publication_year=2011

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from vehicle exhaust are associated with negative health impacts and are a precursor to ozone production. Self-cleaning, air-purifying concrete pavement is a rapidly emerging technology that can degrade pollutants such as NOx through heterogeneous photocatalysis. Photocatalytic layers include titanium dioxide nanoparticles that can trap and degrade organic and inorganic particles in the air and thus remove harmful gases from the air in the presence of ultraviolet light (sunlight). In addition, their superhydrophilic properties allow them to self-clean in the presence of rain. Although this technology has the potential to support environmentally friendly road infrastructure, the impacts of a number of design and operational parameters on the technology’s effectiveness need to be evaluated before full-scale implementation. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of common roadway contaminants on the effectiveness of the ability of photocatalytic roadways to remove NOx from the atmosphere. Three common roadway contaminants were tested—dirt, deicing salt, and motor oil—at two contrasting coverage levels. Results of the experimental program showed that the three contaminant types had a strong negative impact on the photocatalytic NOx removal efficiency. The impact of the coverage of contaminants largely depended on the soilure type, with oil having the largest negative impact. An increase in the flow rate and air relative humidity also resulted in lower NOx efficiencies.

01361506

11-1105

English

pp 22-29

2011

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309167581

Print

Figures (5) ; Photos (9) ; References (21) ; Tables (4)

Concrete pavements; Contaminants; Environmental impacts; Humidity; Nitrogen oxides; Ozone; Purification; Technological innovations; Ultraviolet light

Photocatalysis; Pollutant removal; Self-cleaning systems; Titanium dioxide

Environment; Highways; Materials; Pavements; I33: Other Materials used in Pavement Layers

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Feb 17 2011 5:41PM

• Characterization of Interface Bond of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays
• Characterization of Moisture Transport and Its Effect on Deformations in Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement
• Cyclic Heat Island Impacts on Traditional Versus Pervious Concrete Pavement Systems
• Development of Micromechanics Models and Innovative Sensor Technologies to Evaluate Internal Frost Damage of Concrete
• Effect of Blended Fly Ashes in Mitigating Alkali–Silica Reaction
• Effect of Fiber Addition, Heat Treatment, and Preset Pressure on Mechanical Properties of Ultra-High-Strength Mortars
• Efforts to Improve Quality Assurance and Quality Control of Concrete in Virginia
• Experimental Study on Permeability and Mechanical Properties of Nanomodified Porous Concrete
• Heat of Hydration for Cement: Statistical Modeling
• New Approach to Calibrate the Mortar Flow Table
• Optimizing Aggregates to Reduce Cement in Concrete Without Reducing Quality
• Role of Potassium Acetate Deicer in Accelerating Alkali–Silica Reaction in Concrete Pavements Relationship Between Laboratory and Field Studies
• Thermophysical Optimization of Specialized Concrete Pavement Materials for Collection of Surface Heat Energy and Applications for Shallow Heat Storage