McGill-Airpura alliance: the effects of novel sustainable filters and sorbents in indoor air purifiers on indoor bioaerosols, nanoparticles and gaseous pollutants

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This collaborative project is between McGill University and Airpura Industries - a Canadian developer and global exporter of indoor air purifiers. Indoor air purifiers usually contain the following principal components: a filter and a sorbent, an air handler, and, sometimes, a catalytic element. This collaborative project aims to create new knowledge on how these components of indoor air purifiers interact with the three most problematic categories of indoor air pollutants: nano-aerosols, bioaerosols, and volatile organic compounds. The physical, chemical and biological processes inside indoor air purifiers involving these pollutants are poorly scientifically understood. This lack of knowledge is especially acute for more sustainable filters and sorbents under development: recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. The project's results will facilitate the development and implementation of better performing, healthier and more sustainable indoor air purifiers. The advancements will deliver an edge over the global competition providing an economic benefit to Canada. The project will include: 1) the experiments investigating the physical, chemical and biological processes at the interfaces of indoor air purifier components and the traditional and novel sustainable filters and sorbents, 2) the investigation of the removal, deposition, transformations over the product lifespan, and generation in indoor air purifiers of bioaerosols, (nano)aerosols, and volatile organic compounds, 3) characterization of indoor air purifiers' effects on bioaerosols in the processed air, and 4) biological and non-biological contaminants' interactions and formation inside indoor air purifiers. Based on this project, Airpura is expected to upgrade its series of products for the domestic and export markets and emerge as a global leader in the sustainability of indoor air purifiers, including the product end of life stage, highly important for reducing the environmental impact of indoor air purifiers. Four highly skilled young professionals will be engaged in the project and trained in a rich collaborative research environment.