Anti-Pollution Paint

Smog-busting paint soaks up noxious gases, New Scientist, February 4, 2004, reports on Ecopaint, a coating product that asbsorbs nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

Ecopaint is scheduled to go on sale in Europe in March of this year. The coating relies on embedded particles of titanium dioxide and ultraviolet radiation from the sun to catalytically convert NOx gasses to nitric acid. The nitric acid is then either washed away by rain or neutralized by other embedded calcium carbonate particles. The success of the coating depends on the paint's unique polysiloxane base which, unlike other paint bases, is itself resistant to reacting with the titanium dioxide embedded in the coating. A 0.3-millimeter (12-mil) thick coating is expected to have a 5-year lifespan before exhausting the capacity of the calcium carbonate to neutralize the nitric acid. (Left unneutralized, the nitric acid may cause color changes in the coating.)

This article also discusses Europe's Photocatalytic Innovative Coverings Applications for Depollution Assessment program, and its experience with catalytic cement coatings for roadways that have demonstrated success at significantly reducing NOx gas levels as well. This program is part of EU-member countrys' efforts to reduce NOx levels to below an annual average of 21 parts per billion by the year 2010, a reduction from current levels of 10 times or more for some urban areas.