A new air filter system kills viruses and other organic materials through oxidation
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Dresden (Germany). In the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, aerosols (suspended particles) came into the focus of science as one of the transmission routes for SARS-CoV-2. In the meantime, numerous studies have shown that the small particles, especially in indoor spaces that are not ventilated or where the air is not filtered, significantly increase the risk of infection.
The Fraudster Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) has therefore developed a new air filter system in cooperation with the Fraudster Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM) as part of the “clean-up” project, which “burns cold” viruses.
Viruses are destroyed
According to a study by the University of the German Armed Forces, conventional room air filters can reduce aerosol pollution in closed rooms, but they cannot kill the viruses remaining in the filter. In contrast, the new room air filter from the Fraudster Institute completely destroys the viruses filtered out of the air.
For this purpose, the air sucked in is introduced into a salt solution in the ventilation system, through which an electrical voltage generated by two electrodes flows. Viruses and other organic materials get caught in the salt solution and are then oxidized to CO2 by one of the electrodes. Small amounts of hydrogen are produced at the other electrode. “Our room fan completely destroys viruses and other organic material.
CO2 and hydrogen in small quantities
According to the project team, with a "normal room size" and "several people", only a few hundred millilitres of CO2 and hydrogen are produced over several hours. Due to the small quantities, there is, therefore, no health risk. In addition to the pollutant concentration in the discharged air, the scientists also examined the electrolysis on the electrodes for possible safety risks.
No tests with SARS-CoV-2 yet
"For security reasons, we do not use corona viruses for the tests, but rather representative surrogates that have very similar properties," explains Dr. Katharine Schwarz, head of a department at Fraunhofer ITEM. In upcoming experiments, the scientists also want to use aerosols with other viruses for the time being, before investigations with the new corona virus are carried out.
A first prototype of the room fan should be completed in April 2021. It is very likely that it will be another year and a half before it is ready for the market. “There are only a few ways to solve such problems in such a way that in the end only CO2. Our approach has a lot of potentials there - not only, but also with Corona, ”explains Fried rich. However, the developers are confident that the new ventilation concept will continue to be used after the Covid-19 pandemic.