Innovation in air filtration devices using advanced salt recrystallization techniques

采用先进盐重结晶技术的空气过滤装置创新

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04314
• 负责人: Choi, HyoJick
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=682462
• 关键词: Innovation; air; filtration; devices; using

Electrically charged filters are widely used in air filtration devices and personal protective measures against airborne contaminants. However, electrical charge decay and hydrophobic nature of the filter fibers raise a concern over their performance against bioaerosols. As a result, the biological contaminants such as bacteria captured on filters can survive for many days, posing an immediate danger to public safety due to cross-infection, new aerosol release, and contaminated waste. Therefore, it is critical to develop an innovative mechanism to increase the performance of existing filtration devices against bioaerosols and apply the concept to fabricate new filtration devices capable of inactivating bacteria swiftly. ******We aim to develop a simple yet efficient antibacterial filter device, utilizing polypropylene (PP) fibers and salt recrystallization phenomenon. Salt-coated air filters can be designed not only to prevent transmission of bioaerosols but to physically destroy them. Specifically, when the bacteria-laden aerosols make contact with the filter fibers, the salt coating dissolves and then salt recrystallizes as aerosols evaporate. This causes inactivation of the bacteria through denaturation of antigens and/or destruction of lipid envelopes. In this program, we will be primarily dedicated to the design, development, and performance testing of the salt-coated PP filters. A salt coating will be formed by soaking or spraying the PP filters with a saline formulation, followed by drying. The thickness and morphology of the coated salt crystals will be controlled by varying salt concentration and drying method. The salt coating will be optimized to meet diverse application-specific requirements. For example, stability at different humidity conditions and substrate types will be improved by varying salt types and surfactants, respectively. We will evaluate the performance of the prototype air filters against regulatory agency standards by measuring pressure drop, filtration efficiency, time-dependent infectivity change, strain non-specificity, environmental stability, and reusability. ******The technological outcomes of this program will advance the general strategy to protect the Canadians and the world against bioaerosols. This in turn will contribute to the Canadian economy by expanding research outcomes to the industries specializing in personal/public protective measures (i.e. cabin air and HVAC filters, facial masks, and respirators), and promoting technology transfer to industrial partners. Ultimately, this program will lead to the multidisciplinary training of highly qualified personnel in advanced materials science, filter fabrication/surface modification techniques, and biotechnology, and bring Canada to the forefront of the universal search of an efficient air filtration device against bacterial pollution.

电荷过滤器被广泛用于空气过滤设备和针对机载污染物的个人保护措施。然而，滤光管的电荷衰减和疏水性引起了对生物溶质性的性能的关注。结果，在过滤器上捕获的细菌等生物污染物可以生存很多天，因此由于交叉感染，新的气溶胶释放和被污染的废物带来了公共安全的立即危险。因此，开发一种创新的机制以提高现有的过滤设备对生物溶质的性能，并将该概念应用于制造能够迅速失活细菌的新型过滤设备，这一点至关重要。 ******我们旨在利用聚丙烯（PP）纤维和盐再结晶现象开发一种简单而有效的抗菌过滤器装置。涂有盐涂层的空气过滤器不仅可以防止生物溶质的传播，还可以物理破坏它们。具体而言，当充满细菌的气溶胶与滤纤维接触时，盐涂料溶解，然后随着气溶胶蒸发而重结晶。这导致细菌通过抗原变性和/或脂质包膜破坏而失活。在此计划中，我们将主要致力于盐涂的PP过滤器的设计，开发和性能测试。盐涂料将通过浸泡或用盐水配方浸泡或喷洒PP过滤器，然后进行干燥。涂层盐晶体的厚度和形态将通过不同的盐浓度和干燥方法来控制。盐涂层将被优化以满足特定于应用的各种要求。例如，在不同的湿度条件和底物类型下的稳定性将通过不同的盐类型和表面活性剂改善。我们将通过测量压降，过滤效率，时间依赖性感染性变化，非特异性，环境稳定性和可重复性来评估原型空气过滤器对监管机构标准的性能。 ******该计划的技术成果将促进保护加拿大人和世界免受生物美感的一般战略。反过来，这将通过扩大专门从事个人/公共保护措施的行业（即机舱空气和HVAC过滤器，面罩和呼吸器）的研究成果，并将技术转移到工业伙伴，从而为加拿大经济做出贡献。最终，该计划将导致对高级材料科学中高素质人员的多学科培训，过滤器制造/表面修饰技术和生物技术，并将加拿大带到针对细菌污染的有效空气过滤装置的普遍搜索。