Cleaning the air we breathe: degradation of allergens of pollen by heterogeneous photocatalysis

Abstract

In this work, the potential for degradation of different allergens, coming from pollen of trees, grasses and plants, by heterogeneous photocatalysis has been undertaken. 7 different allergens usually employed in medical allergy tests and widely present in our cities were thoroughly characterized and submitted to degradation experiments by two different commercial catalysts for 3 different sources of radiation, illuminating with different intensities, following the evolution of the products of reaction. As a result, it has been possible to determine the rate of reaction of each allergen, in function of the source of radiation conditions and the secondary products formed, confirming the fact that heterogeneous photocatalysis is a feasible way to undertake the problem of the excess of allergens as airborne contaminants.