Formaldehyde reduction with scallop shell powders fired at high temperatures: Identification of the effective ingredient
Issue title: Selected papers presented at the International Symposium on Nanotoxicity Assessment and Biomedical Environmental Application of Fine Particles and Nanotubes, Hokkaido, Japan, 16–17 June 2008, Part 2
Affiliations: Department of Materials Chemistry, Asahikawa National College of Technology, Asahikawa, Japan
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Tomoya Takada, Asahikawa National College of Technology, 2-2-1-6, Syunkodai, Asahikawa 0718142, Japan. Tel./Fax: +81 166558036; E-mail: takada@asahikawa-nct.ac.jp.
Abstract: The volatile organic compound (VOC) reduction activity of scallop shell powders fired at 300, 600 and 900°C was examined using formaldehyde (HCHO). Raw shells as well as fired shells immediately after firing at several temperatures, except for 600°C, were found to gradually remove HCHO from the air. In the case of shell powders stored for 3 months after firing, the HCHO reduction activity of the powder fired at 900°C was obviously improved, with the HCHO concentrations rapidly reaching zero within 20 min. It has been found by X-ray diffraction measurements that shell powder stored for 3 months after firing at 900°C contains a small amount of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) generated from calcium oxide (CaO). Our results suggest that Ca(OH)2 may be the effective ingredient in the HCHO reduction.
