Bias enhanced electrolytic photocatalysis (BEEP) cleaning system
Methods and systems for the purification of an aqueous solution comprising a photocatalyst employed as an anode and a cathode in communication with an electrolyte to achieve a current flow wherein a charge is applied between the cathode and the photocatalytic excited anode a corresponding increase in electron-hole pairs occurs.
1. A system, comprising:
a light source configured to emit light at a wavelength;
a cathode disposed radially around or parallel to the light source;
a photocatalyst anode disposed radially around or parallel to the cathode and configured to be illuminated by the light source, and presenting a photocatalytic surface to the light emitted by the light source;
a power source electronically connected to the photocatalyst anode and the cathode and configured to apply a positive charge to the photocatalyst anode and a negative charge to the cathode creating a bias between the cathode and the photocatalyst anode; and
the photocatalyst anode and the cathode being configured to have a fluid therebetween, wherein the fluid contains one or more pollutants which are degraded when the photocatalyst anode is illuminated,
wherein the light source illuminates the photocatalyst anode to excite electron-hole pairs in the photocatalyst anode; and
wherein the cathode allows light to penetrate and excite the photocatalyst anode.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fluid comprises seawater.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the photocatalyst anode comprises TiO 2 .
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the photocatalyst anode is perforated.
6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the cathode is perforated and is light permeable and comprises stainless steel.