Solar energy is Florida's most abundant waste product. While it is responsible for Florida's agricultural and forest products industries, as well as the tourist trade, 99 percent of the solar energy is just dissipated as heat.

We have studied he catalytically-enhanced use of the ultraviolet part of the solar spectrum for the destruction of disease-producing microorganisms in water and air. An innocuous, non-toxic chemical, titanium dioxide, which is employed as a whitener in paints and toothpaste, is catalyzed by solar UV to produce a powerful oxidant. We have demonstrated that solar radiation in the presence of titanium dioxide rapidly kills microorganisms. It also destroys chemical that produce obnoxious odors. Using lamps that generate solar ultraviolet, a device for purifying air with titanium dioxide has been developed and is now being marketed.