Distinct properties and specific applications of nanocrystalline metal oxides as air pollution control substances

The rapid development in the field of nanotechnology has offered unprecedented advantages to the benefit of human beings and brought scientists and engineers to frontiers that have never been reached before. Nanocrystalline alkaline earth metal oxides, i.e., MgO and CaO nanoparticles, belong to the unique set of nanostructured materials and have been proven to be successful in the destructive adsorption of many chlorinated or phosphorus-containing compounds. Due to the increasing awareness of public health related to the pollutants present in indoor and outdoor air, we specially targeted the adsorption studies on representative compounds commonly present in the indoor environment.; The effectiveness of nanoparticles in liquid and vapor phase adsorption toward many organic compounds and specialty gases is presented in comparison with their micron-sized counterparts and activated carbon. The abundant pore availability, high concentration surface defect sites, and chemical reactivity in dissociatively binding adsorbate molecules all account for the superior adsorptive capabilities that nanoparticles showed under tested conditions. Another investigated feature was the porosity change under pressure-aided consolidation. The details regarding the structural changes of the nanoparticles under varied levels of compression are discussed. The encouraging results of nanoparticles in the simulated air pollution control studies make them excellent choices for potential scavengers to decrease contamination and improve air quality.