PMITM nano titanium dioxide photocatalyst technology provides a new generation of environmental purification. The process of air purification called photocatalysis makes use of light and a photocatalyst to decompose and neutralize organic matter such as grime, biofilms, bacteria, viruses, mould VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and odours.

Catalysis occurs when UV light (from sunlight or fluorescent lights) energizes titanium dioxide and triggers two chemical reactions that lead to the near instantaneous formation of hydroxyl radicals (OH*) and superoxide anions (O2-). These highly reactive chemical agents then instantly interact at the treated surface to accelerate the environmentally beneficial decomposition of all organic pollutants.

The OH radical is the most important oxidant in the troposphere, the lowest part of the atmosphere (below about10 km). Nobel Prize winner Paul Crutzen coined the phrase “detergent of the atmosphere” to describe this important cleansing role of OH.

PMI(TM) titanium dioxide photocatalytic solution has been applied in MRT toilets throughout the North East Line in Singapore to improve sanitation standard, by killing germs and removing odours. The same technology has also been implemented in the air-conditioning cooling coils in the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital for air and surface sterilization and odour removal.

The self-cleaning property of PMI, combined with its photocatalytic, pollution consuming abilities makes it an ideal coating for external building façade under polluting urban conditions. Dirt and grime which collect on building surfaces are disintegrated by PMI’s photocatalytic action. Sunshine and rain are all you need to keep external surfaces clean for extended periods of time.

The loss of membrane structure and, therefore membrane functions is the root cause of microbe cell death when photocatalytic TiO2 particles are outside the cell. The toxin called endotoxin, produced at the end of cell death is also destroyed by photocatalytic action. Titanium dioxide does not deteriorate. It has a long-term anti-bacterial effect.

Examples of odour molecules include tobacco odour, garbage odour, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide and many other hydro carbon molecules in the atmosphere.

In polluted urban environment, atmospheric constituents such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and CFC substitutes, greenhouse gases, and nitrogenous and sulfurous compounds are removed when they undergo photochemical reactions in the presence of sunlight. Paving blocks treated with TiO2 photocatalyst have been used in cities for such air cleaning purposes.

PMI TiO2 photocatalyst has an interesting super-hydrophilic property. When water comes into contact with a surface coated with PMI and irradiated with sunlight, the contact angle of the droplet of water decreases dramatically to close to zero degree. The treated surface’s affinity for water helps to spread rain drops into a thin film under the dirt. Together with the help of gravity, the dirt just slides down the wall surfaces. The hydrophilic property of PMI also helps to remove and prevent water marks and stains from forming on building surfaces since water always appear as a thin film. The view of the outside from the inside of a building will also be clearer on a rainy day as optical distortion from water droplets on a glass window has been eliminated.