Destruction of Air-Borne Pathogenic Bacteria

描述(由申请人提供)：本研究项目的目标是建立一种新的光催化技术的技术和经济可行性，以灭活空气传播的炭疽杆菌(炭疽)，使用具有代表性的替代细菌孢子蜡状芽胞杆菌。这项技术将被整合到建筑物的循环通风管道中，以防止因恐怖行为而将炭疽菌引入中央空调系统。还需要一种能够灭活大范围此类病原体的技术，因为生物工程可以导致炭疽孢子的改良。这种广泛的作用技术也可以通过破坏室内空气中的其他微生物和有机蒸气，立即适用于治疗“病态建筑”综合症。 KSE公司已经开发出一种新型光催化剂，其对有机化合物的氧化活性比传统的二氧化钛高出几个数量级。这种新型光催化剂将与马萨诸塞大学微生物学系合作，用于炭疽孢子的破坏。该计划将利用光催化剂组成研究为这一应用量身定做一种优越的光催化剂，对新型光催化剂的杀菌效率进行反应器研究，并对该技术相对于其他维持室内空气质量的替代方案进行竞争成本分析。 商业应用将提供一种具有广泛杀菌活性的空气净化技术，特别适用于炭疽孢子、生物工程炭疽和其他病原体，以及导致“病态建筑”的常见微生物。因此，它将提供一个中央防御战略，防止将致命的炭疽孢子引入中央空气系统的威胁，同时还通过去除有机化合物和常见微生物来改善商业建筑的室内空气质量，从而立即带来商业利益。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this research project is to establish the technical and economic feasibility of a novel photocatalytic technology to inactivate air-borne Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), using representative surrogate bacterial spores, B. cereus. The technology is to be incorporated into circulating air ducts of buildings, providing protection against introduction of anthrax bacteria into central air systems by a terrorist act. There is also a need for a technology which can inactivate a broad range of such pathogens, since bioengineering could lead to modified anthrax spores. Such a broad acting technology could also find immediate applicability in curing "sick building" syndrome, by destroying other microorganisms and organic vapors in indoor air. KSE, Inc. has already developed a new class of photocatalysts, 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, in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts, Department of Microbiology. The program will utilize photocatalyst composition studies to tailor a superior photocatalyst for this application, 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 commercial applications will provide an air purification technology with broad bactericidal activity, particularly useful for anthrax spores, bioengineered anthrax, and other pathogens, as well as common microorganisms contributing to a "sick building." It will thus provide a central defense strategy against the threat of introduction of lethal anthrax spores into central air systems, while also providing immediate commercial benefit through improvements of indoor air quality of commercial buildings by removing organic compounds and common microorganisms.