Enabling Safe Air Quality Levels In The Transport Industry With Game-Changing Air Filtration

运输业受到新型冠状病毒疫情的重大影响。人们担心含有病毒的生物气溶胶会在船上引起感染，从而导致大流行病的传播。这也是由经常令人不快的气味挥发性有机化合物（VOC）和空气中的颗粒物引起的空气质量问题的报告。这个问题是全球性的，影响到所有类型的运输，包括飞机、火车、公共汽车、汽车，甚至客船。通过引入过滤器，不仅可以杀死病毒，还可以捕获VOC和气味，从而降低感染风险和健康问题，同时增强乘客和机组人员在大流行后旅行的信心，空气质量可以大大改善。不幸的是，现有的空气过滤技术即使结合使用（即HEPA与活性炭过滤器）也无法提供所需的性能。Aqdot（一家总部位于剑桥的中小企业）拥有独特的专有VOC/恶臭捕获技术（AqFresh），可以有效地去除各种令人不快和/或有害的分子。这项创新目前已在家庭护理、宠物护理和工业清洁产品中商用。该项目旨在通过开发可扩展的、可随时采用的空气过滤器，将新型VOC/气味捕获技术与抗病毒能力结合起来，从而使该技术适应运输行业的需求，从而显著改善运输中的空气安全和质量。创新的过滤器通过将适当的聚氨酯泡沫基材浸渍到独特的涂料配方中而制成，将被设计成适合全球过滤器制造商的现有系统。将对过滤器进行配制并检测其抗病毒和VOC降低能力。这些过滤器原型将由商业制造商在操作环境中进行整合和测试，以便在全球推广。Aqdot将与客户合作，在航空航天、汽车和公共交通领域的过滤框架中快速采用这一创新技术。一旦成功，Aqdot的创新空气过滤器将为全球运输行业带来空气质量的重大改善，使其免受病毒、VOC和气味的影响，最大限度地降低感染风险和船上的健康问题，帮助抗击当前的新冠肺炎疫情，同时减少未来潜在疫情的影响。此举亦将确保乘客及机组人员的安全及建立信心，使他们在疫情后恢复出行，重振运输业，并为经济带来急需的提振。该项目将展示对英国创新型中小企业的支持，加强英国的技术组合，并具有巨大的出口潜力。在成功展示结合VOCs/恶臭捕获和抗病毒性能的创新过滤技术的技术可行性和潜力后，影响的扩展将集中在加速该技术的市场吸收上。主要合作伙伴将参与合作计划，以评估过滤器在操作条件下的性能。我们将制定明确而详细的商业化战略，并将制定关键约定，以确定大规模生产材料的供应链。总体而言，新过滤器将以适合大规模生产的形式准备好供市场采用，其市场潜力将得以实现，从而加强英国的技术组合，最大限度地减少Covid-19的影响，并为社会带来额外的利益。

The transport industry has been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. People fear that virus-containing bioaerosols cause infection on board which has contributed to the spread of the pandemic. This is also compounded by reports of air-quality issues arising from the often-unpleasant odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and airborne particles. This problem is global, affecting all types of transport including airplanes, trains, buses, cars and even passenger ships. Air quality could be greatly improved by introducing filters that not only kill viruses but also capture VOCs and odours, thereby reducing risks of infection and health concerns while boosting the confidence of passengers and crew in post-pandemic travel. Unfortunately, existing air-filtration technologies are unable to deliver the performance required even when used in combination (i.e. HEPA with charcoal filters). Therefore, alternative and novel solutions are required.Aqdot (a Cambridge-based SME) has a unique, proprietary VOC/malodour-capture technology (AqFresh) that is effective against a wide range of molecules that are unpleasant and/or harmful. The innovation is currently commercially available in home care, pet care and industrial cleaning products. This project aims to adapt the technology to meet the needs of the transport industry by developing scalable, ready-to-adopt air filters that bring together novel VOC/odour capture technology with antiviral capabilities, significantly improving air safety and quality in transport.The innovative filters, generated by impregnating appropriate polyurethane foam substrates with a unique coating formulation, will be designed to fit into existing systems of global filter manufacturers. The filters will be formulated and tested for anti-viral and VOC-reduction capabilities. These filter prototypes will then be incorporated and tested in operational environments by commercial manufacturers with a view for global roll out. Aqdot will partner with customers to allow rapid adoption of this innovation in their filtration frameworks in aerospace, automotive and public transport.Upon success, Aqdot's innovative air filters will bring major improvements in air quality for the transport industry worldwide to be free from viruses, VOCs and odours, minimising the risk of infections and health concerns onboard, helping to combat the immediate Covid-19 pandemic while reducing the impact of future potential pandemics. It will also assure safety and build confidence among passengers and crew to resume travelling following the pandemic, reinvigorating the transport industry and giving a much-needed boost to the economy. The project will demonstrate support for innovative UK-based SMEs, strengthen the UK technology portfolio and has significant export potential.After successful demonstration of the technical feasibility and potential of the innovative filtration technology combining VOCs/malodour capture and antiviral performance, the extension for impact will focus on speeding the market uptake of the technology. Key partners will be engaged in collaboration programs to assess the filters performance under operational conditions. A clear and detailed commercialization strategy will be put in place as well as key engagements will be established for definition of the supply chain for large scale production of the materials. In overall, the new filters will be ready for market adoption in a suitable format for large scale production and their market potential will be realised, strengthening the UK technology portfolio, minimizing the impact of Covid-19 and delivering extra benefits to society.