SBIR Phase I: Homeland Security: Photocatalytic Destruction of Air-Borne Bacteria

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目建议建立一种新的光催化技术的技术和经济可行性，以灭活以炭疽杆菌(炭疽细菌)为代表的空气传播的替代细菌孢子。这项技术将被整合到建筑物的循环风道中，以防止因恐怖行为而将炭疽热引入中央空调系统。研究人员此前开发了一种新型光催化剂，这种催化剂对有机化合物的氧化活性比传统的二氧化钛高出一个数量级。这种新型光催化剂将被改装用于炭疽孢子的破坏。该计划将利用光催化剂的组成研究，为这一应用量身定做一种优质的光催化剂，随后将在反应器中研究新的光催化剂的杀菌效率，并对该技术与其他维持室内空气质量的替代技术进行竞争成本分析。该项目的直接商业应用是在国土安全领域。拟议的技术将防止将致命的炭疽孢子引入中央空调系统的威胁。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to establish the technical and economic feasibility of a novel photocatalytic technology to inactivate air-borne surrogate bacterial spores representative of Bacillus anthracis (anthrax bacteria). The technology is to be incorporated into circulating air ducts of buildings, providing protection against introduction of anthrax into central air systems by a terrorist act. The investigators have previously developed a new class of photocatalysts that are orders of magnitude more active for organic compound oxidation than the traditional titania. This new class of photocatalysts will be adapted for use in anthrax spore destruction. The program will utilize photocatalyst composition studies to tailor a superior photocatalyst for this application, to be followed by reactor studies of the bactericidal efficacy of the new photocatalysts, and a competitive cost analysis of the technology relative to other alternatives for maintenance of indoor air quality. The immediate commercial application of this project is in the area of homeland security. The proposed technology will protect against the threat of introduction of lethal anthrax spores into central air systems.