Simix Protector Plus

Simix Protector Plus for Boats

Self-Sanitizing Surfaces

TiO2 is an n-type semiconductor whose photo catalytic germicidal properties in the nano-particulate
form have been known since 1985 following the publication of research by a Japanese group.  Since then, the development of this type of technology has tended to remain mainly in the hands of the
Japanese including the first examples of commercialization (see later).  There have been numerous
studies of the photo catalytic action of titanium dioxide to remove organic and inorganic compounds
from contaminated water and air and for the partial oxidation of organic compounds such as toluene.

Titanium dioxide has two active crystalline forms - anatase and rutile - and most research has been done using what is termed P25 titanium dioxide produced by the Degussa Chemical Company in
Germany.  P25 is a mixture of 75% anatase and 25% rutile with particles of mean diameter 30 nm and a BET surface area of 50 m2/g.
The irradiation of TiO2 with UV light produces the hydroxyl radical,  hydrogen peroxide and super oxide
anions.  These reactive oxygen species (ROS) can damage the structure and disrupt the biochemistry of bacteria and virus-infected cells.  In the presence of the hydroxyl radical and molecular oxygen,
organic compounds are oxidised ultimately to carbon dioxide and water.
The rate of the germicidal action is dependent on the intensity of the UV source, but tests show that the UV light emitted from normal domestic fluorescent lights is sufficient to sanitize a surface up to 10
meters away with an exposure time of 1 hour.
The types of organisms against which TiO2 has been shown to be active are given below: