Foam air purifier targets CO2, viruses and unpleasant smells
发布时间：2024年5月28日 23:03
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Professor Semali Perera with Foam3r material, which is used in the air purifier (Credit: University of Bath)
Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a new high-performance air purifier that targets everything from unpleasant smells to dangerous viruses.
Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a new high-performance air purifier that targets everything from unpleasant smells to dangerous viruses.
Designed to clean the air without creating harmful waste, the purifier is based on Foam3r filter technology, patented by the university. The foam is described as a “highly adaptable disruptor technology for microbial, CO2 (carbon dioxide) and volatile organic compound (VOC) odour removal”.
Foam3r can be used to produce multi-functional foam structures for a wide range of applications, including aircraft cabins, in-car air filters, ship and boat cabins, residential heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, home air purifiers, and respirators and breathing apparatus.
The foam comprises a high temperature polymer and ‘active media’ such as selective adsorbents that capture contaminants, and antibacterial agents that combat microbes. It is mouldable and lightweight, anti-bacterial, and the addition of active metals reportedly makes it 99.999% efficient in removing common bacteria and viruses.
It also has a tailorable composition, allowing for targeted capture of a wide range of small to large VOCs – some of which are responsible for unpleasant smells, while others can be harmful to human health – and high-performance removal of CO2.
The home air purifier design, currently in the prototype stage, features two cylindrical columns of the Foam3r material. During operation, one column is used to purify the air, while the other ‘regenerates’ through heating, restoring the foam’s sorbent properties.
The process also removes collected pollutants and dead microbial debris captured in the air through heating, and recovers volatile components through cooling and condensation, which are collected as a liquid that is safe to pour away.
Foam3r is created in a one-step manufacturing process and can be shaped into a variety of form factors. It can also be retrofitted into existing technology and is reportedly more energy efficient than comparable carbon granule-based air purification systems.
Professor Semali Perera from Bath’s Department of Chemical Engineering said the new material and design could present a breakthrough in air purification. “We have created a highly efficient design, with none of the disposable cartridges or waste that we see in many commercial air purifiers, so there are several benefits to what we’ve created.
“Our next step is to engage potential commercial partners with the requisite expertise to bring our invention to the market.”
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Foam3r can be used to produce multi-functional foam structures for a wide range of applications, including aircraft cabins, in-car air filters, ship and boat cabins, residential heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, home air purifiers, and respirators and breathing apparatus.
The foam comprises a high temperature polymer and ‘active media’ such as selective adsorbents that capture contaminants, and antibacterial agents that combat microbes. It is mouldable and lightweight, anti-bacterial, and the addition of active metals reportedly makes it 99.999% efficient in removing common bacteria and viruses.
It also has a tailorable composition, allowing for targeted capture of a wide range of small to large VOCs – some of which are responsible for unpleasant smells, while others can be harmful to human health – and high-performance removal of CO2.
The home air purifier design, currently in the prototype stage, features two cylindrical columns of the Foam3r material. During operation, one column is used to purify the air, while the other ‘regenerates’ through heating, restoring the foam’s sorbent properties.
The process also removes collected pollutants and dead microbial debris captured in the air through heating, and recovers volatile components through cooling and condensation, which are collected as a liquid that is safe to pour away.
Foam3r is created in a one-step manufacturing process and can be shaped into a variety of form factors. It can also be retrofitted into existing technology and is reportedly more energy efficient than comparable carbon granule-based air purification systems.
Professor Semali Perera from Bath’s Department of Chemical Engineering said the new material and design could present a breakthrough in air purification. “We have created a highly efficient design, with none of the disposable cartridges or waste that we see in many commercial air purifiers, so there are several benefits to what we’ve created.
“Our next step is to engage potential commercial partners with the requisite expertise to bring our invention to the market.”
Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
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