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Seymour S. Block
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., 1942, Pennsylvania State University (1944)
Disinfection and Sterilization
Optimal growth of commercial mushrooms
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Brief Description of Research
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.
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| The oyster mushroom, grown on waste sawdust, was first
produced in this department and is now grown commercially
worldwide. |
Selected Publications
- Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation, Seymour S. Block,
Lippincott, Williams &Wilkins, (2000).
- "Photocatalytic System to Destroy Bioaerosols in Air." J.
Oxidation Technology, Vol. 4, 2, (1999).
- "Solar Detoxification Technology of Potable Water Treatment in
Developing Countries in the Tropics”, ASES Annual Conference, (1999).
- "Photocatalytic Disinfection of Indoor Air", Solar
Engineering,
1, 421, ASME, Maui, Hawaii (1995).
- "Chemically Enhanced Sunlight for Killing Bacteria", Solar
Engineering, Vol. 1, 431, ASME, Maui, Hawaii (1995).
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