Decontamination of air using ultrathin copper alloy filters modified with a dielectric layer for capture and inactivation of microbes

使用经过介电层修饰的超薄铜合金过滤器净化空气，以捕获和灭活微生物

• 批准号: 520972-2017
• 负责人: Warriner, Keith
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=640241
• 关键词: Decontamination; air; using; ultrathin; copper

Air is significant in disseminating pathogens with food processing and clinical environments. To date the mainair decontamination approach is to use HEPA filters that physically remove microbes from air streams. Themain disadvantage of HEPA filters is energy requirement for force air through filters coupled with theaccumulation and failure of filters over time. Alternative systems include UV/ionizing based devices theretention time is too short to ensure microbial inactivation. In the following project will develop andcharacterize ultrathin air filters based on a novel copper alloy coated with a dielectric conducting polymerlayer. The filters to be developed capture microbial cells then inactivate through a combination of copper ionsand antimicrobials within the dielectric layer. The performance of filters will be assessed through determiningthe capture efficacy of model microbes under different flow rates, relative humidity and organic loading. Filterconfiguration and holding potential will be optimized along with antimicrobial agent incorporated into thedielectric layer. One potential restriction of copper based filters is through excessive corrosion and this will beaddressed through evaluation of different polymer layers. The performance of the optimized filter will beassessed through verification studies with a cost-benefit analysis being performed in relation to currentlyavailable HRPA filter systems. The project will train a HQP in a diverse range of techniques includingmicrobiology, material science, polymer chemistry and electrochemistry. The deliverable of the work will be todemonstrate ultrathin air purification systems that can be subsequently developed into commercial units tomaintain air quality in different settings such as those encountered in food processing and clinicalenvironments.

空气在食品加工和临床环境中传播病原体方面具有重要意义。到目前为止，主要的空气净化方法是使用HEPA过滤器，物理去除空气流中的微生物。HEPA过滤器的主要缺点是强制空气通过过滤器所需的能量，以及随着时间的推移过滤器的累积和失效。替代系统包括基于UV/电离的装置，保留时间太短，无法确保微生物灭活。在接下来的项目中，将开发和表征基于新型铜合金的空气过滤器，该铜合金涂覆有介电导电聚合物层。待开发的过滤器捕获微生物细胞，然后通过介电层内的铜离子和抗菌剂的组合进行过滤。通过测定不同流速、相对湿度和有机负荷条件下对模式微生物的捕获效果来评价过滤器的性能。过滤器配置和保持电位将沿着优化，抗菌剂纳入介电层。铜基过滤器的一个潜在限制是过度腐蚀，这将通过评估不同的聚合物层来解决。优化过滤器的性能将通过验证研究进行评估，并与当前可用的HRPA过滤器系统进行成本效益分析。该项目将在包括微生物学、材料科学、聚合物化学和电化学在内的各种技术方面培训HQP。这项工作的交付成果将是展示可持续空气净化系统，该系统随后可以发展成商业单位，以保持不同环境中的空气质量，例如食品加工和临床环境中遇到的空气质量。