Analysis of Oil Stain Degradation on Asphalt Pavement in Tunnels Using Nanophotocatalytic Coatings

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2025

Department

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Abstract

In enclosed tunnel environments with poor ventilation, vehicle emissions and spilled fuel (such as gasoline and diesel) accumulate on the road surface, forming oil stains that significantly impact both the environment and driving safety. To address this issue effectively, this study investigates the use of a nano-TiO2 coating for degrading road surface oil stains. Nano-TiO2 doped with Fe3+ and Fe3+-TiO2 supported by activated carbon were prepared using a sol-gel method. The materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to determine the crystal structure and properties of TiO2. The results showed that Fe3+ doping reduced the average particle size of TiO2 and significantly enhanced its catalytic activity. At the doping level of 0.5% Fe3+, the material achieved a degradation efficiency of 71.34% under UV light and 61.49% under normal light within 3 h. Although activated carbon did not noticeably affect particle size, its porous structure increased the photocatalytic reaction area, thus improving efficiency. Oil stain degradation tests further determined that a 0.5% Fe3+ doping level and 50% activated carbon loading yielded the best results. Additionally, the reusability of the material was verified through repeated degradation experiments.

Publication Title

Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering

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