Training School arranged jointly by the COST Actions 543, 540 and P19

ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS OF TiO₂ PHOTOCATALYSIS

OULU, FINLAND, 4-8 May 2009

General information

Photocatalytic reactions - such as photosynthesis - constitute the basis of life on earth. The catalysis of reactions by sunlight or artificial light - known as "photocatalysis" - is also a familiar phenomenon in the world of science and technology. Extensive research has already been conducted on the photocatalytic effects exerted by certain solids, e.g. TiO₂. More recently, attention has been focused on oxidative photocatalytic reactions which open up exciting prospects for the oxidation of organic components and the purification of drinking water. Titanium dioxide TiO₂ has already been subject to intense scientific community; several processes involving the use of TiO₂ - in particular, reactions suitable for water purification - are nearing the commercialization stage. In contrast, surface technology based on the use of TiO₂, e.g. to oxidize organic components (including microbes) or to make surfaces hydrophilic, has attracted intense interest only recently. Despite this short development period, numerous applications are approaching - or have already reached - the stage of serial production. Whereas in Japan a remarkable number of companies are already producing - or planning to produce - surface technologies for keeping surfaces clean or free of microbial contamination, the focus in Europe has been more on water treatment.

The use of photocatalysis in hydrogen production has also gained increased interest according to the recent literature. Materials design plays a crucial role in this development work. Comparison of the new routes and methods to produce hydrogen from different biomaterials and wastes will be highlighted during the training school. The Training School covers some of the more exciting topics on TiO₂ applications in recent years by an internationally renowned team of speakers, who are active in the field of TiO₂ photocatalysis and TiO₂ materials science and engineering.

The Training School will be arranged at the University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland in collaboration with three COST Actions (543, 540 and P19). The MC Chairs of each COST Action will take part in the Training School as lecturers and chairpersons of the sessions. They will also jointly prepare the discussion session for the design of joint applications to the EU FP7. The local parties to arrange the course will be the Laboratory of Mass and Heat Trainsfer Process Engineering and SkyPro Oulu (Prof. Keiski), and Cewic/Thule Institute (Dr. Pehkonen). Collaboration with Finnish Graduate Schools: Graduate School for Energy Science and Technology (EST), Graduate School on Environmental Science and Technology (EnSTe), Graduate School in Chemical Engineering (GSCE), Graduate School in Materials Science, and National Funding Agency for Research and Innovations, Tekes (Technology Programme in Fuel Cells) will be done.

Participating COST Actions

COST Action 543: BIOETHANOL, Research and Development of Bioethanol Processing for Fuel Cells
MC Chair: Prof. Riitta Keiski, Finland
http://www.fos.su.se/~aatto/cost543/, http://cost.esf.org/index.php?id=945

COST Action 540: PHONASUM, Photocatalytic technologies and novel nanosurfaces materials - critical issues
MC Chair: Dr. Frantisek Peterka, Czech Republic
http://www.cost540.com, http://w3.cost.esf.org/index.php?id=248&action_number=540

COST Action P19: Multiscale modeling of materials
MC Chair: Prof. Matti Alatalo, Finland
http://cost.esf.org/index.php?id=698

Goals of the Training School and benefits for the Early State Researchers (ESTs)

• To provide scientific information on photocatalysis, hydrogen production by benign reaction routes and materials, photocatalytic materials, modeling of photocatalytic materials and reactions, use of photocatalysis in environmental applications, and state-of-the-art and challenges in photocatalysis.
• To provide knowledge on the environmental photocatalytic applications already existing.
• To enhance students’ communication skills, both in writing and presentation, their ability to work effectively in teams, and learning skills (learning portfolios).
• To act as a discussion and meeting forum for early stage researchers, doctors and professors of the research field and to enhance multidisciplinary approach and way of thinking.
• To discuss the possibilities and to do brain-storming to submit a joint FP7 proposal. ESRs are invited to plan proposals in teams.
• To enhance co-operation between different COST Actions (543, 540 and P19).

General course description

• One week intensive course, 6 to 8 hours of lectures, discussions and practice per day for 5 days
• Lecturers from the member countries (institutions and companies) of the COST Action 543, 540 and P19 and from Finnish Universities
• Coordinator Prof. Riitta Keiski (COST Action 543, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland) together with prof. Tapio Mäntylä (COST Action 540, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland), Prof. Matti Alatalo (COST Action P19, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lappeenranta, Finland), Dr. Simo Pehkonen (University of Oulu, CEWIC/Thule Institute, Oulu, Finland), Dr. Jukka Teräs and M.Sc.(Eng.) Satu Pitkäaho (University of Oulu, SkyPro, Oulu, Finland)
• Open for all European post-graduate students and early stage researchers (also undergraduates who have been selected for researcher education) from COST Action 543, 540 and P19 countries (maximum 50 participants from all the three COST Action countries)
• Lectures and discussions, Personal learning portfolios, and Final examination
• 5+2 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System)

Themes of the Training School lectures

1. WELCOME AND ORIENTATION



Prof. Riitta Keiski, University of Oulu, Department of Process and Environmental Engineering: Welcome and orientation

Prof. Riitta Keiski, University of Oulu, Department of Process and Environmental Engineering: Researcher education and research ethics

Senior Lecturer Eetu-Pekka Heikkinen, University of Oulu, Department of Process and Environmental Engineering: Learning portfolio

2. PHOTOCATALYSIS AND PREPARATION OF PHOTOCATALYSTS (THEORY, MATERIALS, SUSTAINABILITY)



Dr. Frantisek Peterka, Centre for Nanosurface Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic: Photocatalytic applications, standardization and testing methods

Dr. Tuomas Aitasalo, Sachtleben Pigments Oy: Industrial role of photocatalysis and preparation of photocatalysts

Prof. Detlef Bahnemann, University of Hannover, Germany: Chemical Physics of Nanostructured Semiconductors

Prof. Tapio Mäntylä, Tampere University of Technology: Preparation of TiO2 photocatalysts for controlling of fouling of surfaces

Discussion (Dr. Peterka)

Get Together Party

3. ENVIRONMENTALLY BENIGN ROUTES (E.G. PHOTOCATALYTIC, BIOCHEMICAL, CHEMICAL) AND STARTING MATERIALS IN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FOR E.G. FUEL CELLS AND PHOTOREACTORS



Prof. Kornel L. Kovács, University of Szeged, Hungary: Comparison of photocatalytic and biochemical routes of hydrogen production – state-of-the-art and future challenges or Prof. Bouda: Hydrogen production, or Prof. Peter Roberston, The Robert Gordon University: Applications of solar energy harvesting through the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide and liquid junction photovoltaic cells; Hydrogen production and the role of photocatalysis (to be confirmed)

Prof. Leonardo Palmisano, Ingegneria Chimicadei Processi e dei Materiali Ingegneria, Palermo, Italy: Selective heterogeneous photocatalysis by TiO₂ for green innovative organic syntheses: achievements and challenges

Prof. Riitta Keiski, University of Oulu, Department of Process and Environmental Engineering: Photocatalysis and sustainability

Dr. Simo Pehkonen, University of Oulu, CEWIC: Light Intensity Distribution in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Photoreactors

Discussion (Dr. Peterka)

4. PHOTOCATALYSIS IN WATER AND WASTE WATER PURIFICATION



Prof. Detlef Bahnemann, University of Hannover, Germany: Aqueous Phase Degradation of Pesticides and Herbicides via TiO₂ Photocatalysis

Prof. Leonardo Palmisano, Ingegneria Chimicadei Processi e dei Materiali Ingegneria, Palermo, Italy: Heterogeneous photocatalysis coupled with other purification technologies for the purification of aqueous effluents

Prof. Pierre Pichat, URA at CNRS no. 1385, France: TiO₂ photocatalysis on the oxidative degradation of organic compounds in water and air

Dr. John Kiwi, Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, EPFL-ISTE/LBE: Supported TiO₂ an Fenton Photocatalysis on glass, functional polymer films, non-functional polymer films and non woven-fabrics active for industrial waste water treatment

Portfoliowork in small groups (Lic.Tech. Heikkinen and Prof. Keiski)

Dinner

5. PHOTOCATALYSIS IN TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND IN CONTROLLING THE FOULING PHENOMENA ON SURFACES



Prof. Pierre Pichat, URA at CNRS no. 1385, France: TiO₂-coated materials for self-cleaning applications

Dr. John Kiwi,Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, EPFL-ISTE/LBE: About the interaction of E coli cell walls and TiO₂ under daylight irradiation leading to bacterial abatement

Dr. John Kiwi,Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, EPFL-ISTE/LBE: Innovative textile fabrics with self-cleaning and bactericide properties. Photocatalytic and dark processes

Discussion (Dr. Peterka)

Symphonic Concert

6. MODELING THE PHOTOCATALYTIC PHENOMENA AND MATERIALS



Prof. Roberto Car or Prof. Kari Laasonen or Prof. Matti Alatalo: Ab initio methods (to be confirmed)

Prof. Annabella Selloni, University of Princeton: First principles modeling of TiO₂ surfaces

Prof. Adam Kiejna, Wroclaw University: Gold nanostructures on TiO₂ surfaces

Final Discussion (Dr. Peterka, Prof. Keiski, prof. Alatalo, Dr. Pehkonen)

Instructions for examination (Prof. Keiski)

Closing remarks (Prof. Keiski)

Download preliminary timetable of Training School.

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