Coronavirus
Technology Solutions
October 20, 2020
Koch Introduces High Dust Holding Capacity MERV
16 Filter
Automakers will be Upgrading Air Filter Systems
for the Long Haul
Baltimore Upgrading to MERV 13 Filters in City
Buildings
Argonne Developing Coatings and Nanofibers for
Masks
Powered Air Purifying Respirator for Everyday
Use
Biodegradable Mask Developed in UAE
iMune Nanofiber Filter and Electric Shield
Nanofiber Masks can be Sterilized Multiple Times
without Filter Performance Deterioration
______________________________________________________________________________
Koch Introduces
High Dust Holding Capacity MERV 16 Filter
Johnson Controls, a global leader for smart and
sustainable buildings, has just introduced the
KOCH™ DuraMAX line of air filters. With a range
of efficiency ratings from MERV 11 to MERV 16,
DuraMAX filters are a smart and safe upgrade
from bag filters and other box-style rigid
filters and effectively help lower the spread of
COVID-19 indoors.
The DuraMAX line of filters works alongside
other Johnson Controls HVAC products and
solutions to help make buildings more safe,
secure and sustainable.
“Primarily used for large commercial and
industrial applications, the DuraMAX line of
filters is a superior indoor air quality
solution to help a wide range of buildings
combat the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne
diseases,” said Mark Mattingly, vice president
and general manager, Air Filtration Products,
Johnson Controls. “These medium and
high-efficiency filters include the DuraMAX 4V
and 4VS-16 with an industry-leading MERV 16
rating and low resistance to airflows, allowing
customers to save money on energy costs while
experiencing the highest levels of filtration.”
Tested in accordance with ASHRAE Test Standard
52.2-2017, DuraMAX is an ideal choice in
filtration systems with high velocities or
variable air volumes. The high-capacity
mini-pleat design allows a nominal 24x24x12
filter to incorporate 194 square feet of filter
space, which creates an extremely high
dust-holding capacity to significantly prolong
the service life of the filter.
The DuraMAX 4v is designed to replace almost any
competitive high-efficiency air filter in
today’s market. The lightweight, all-plastic
frame installs into side-access housings or
front-load holding frames and is an ideal choice
to replace bag filters and other box-style rigid
filters. The durable, all-plastic frame makes
the DuraMAX 4v the filter of choice in
filtration systems with high velocities,
variable air volumes and high moisture, or in
areas where the user desires to incinerate the
filters after use.
Automakers will be Upgrading Air Filter Systems
for the Long Haul
COVID may not be a serous threat a few years
from now but for the automobile industry the
upgrade of filtration systems to remove diesel
soot as well as COVID will be permanent.
Chinese automaker Geely Auto, whose parent
company owns high-end brands Volvo and
Lotus, announced in February that in response to
the coronavirus, its forthcoming Icon electric
SUV would feature an N95-certified air
purification system that could “isolate and
eliminate harmful elements in the cabin air”
including viruses. The same month, Geely said it
would invest about $54 million to build
“healthier cars” with “comprehensive virus
protection.”
Volvo and Lincoln are rolling out advanced air
filtration systems for 2021 models. They use
sensors to identify tiny particles and enhanced
filters to clean the air that enters a car’s
cabin, a version of technologies that Tesla has
offered since 2015. While those systems are not
being touted by the manufacturers as protection
measures against COVID-19, that doesn’t mean
anxious — and flush — car buyers won’t pay for
any add-on that might make their trip to the
country club for socially distanced brunch at
least feel a bit safer.
“As a product, of course it has viability,” said
Mike Ramsey, automotive analyst at Gartner Inc.
“Luxury car makers are trying to cook up new
ways to
differentiate the product from vehicles that are
largely the same but much cheaper.”
The coronavirus is ordinarily spread through
respiratory droplets passed among people in
close contact, more often than not indoors,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Contracting the virus from driving a
car through contaminated air seems an edge case,
to say the least.
A
far more likely means of catching the virus
inside a car would come from traveling with an
infected passenger.
No
automobile cabin air filter can prevent one
passenger from transmitting a virus to another —
a fact endlessly repeated in the media maelstrom
that followed President Trump’s controversial
motorcade drive-by Oct. 4 while he was fighting
COVID-19. Doctors say the best bet is to travel
only with people you’re reasonably sure do not
have the virus.
Baltimore Upgrading to MERV 13 Filters in City
Buildings
The Department of General Services has been
replacing air filters in the Mitchell and
Cummings courthouses, upgrading the type
normally used to MERV 13-rated filters,
following recommendations by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
“Those are the most efficient, high-efficient
that our systems can accommodate. They have a
better filtration rate,” General Services
Division Chief Terrel Chesson said.
But making the changes can create new
challenges.
“PPE costs. Air filters cost -- that was not
part of our budget,” Baltimore City Schools CEO
Sonja Santelises said.
Recently, Santelises described what it takes to
ensure school buildings are healthy.
“The reality is these precautions cost. They are
not cost-free and the older the buildings are,
older facilities are, the more it takes. It's
not just the change of an air filter, it's
additional precautions as well,” she said.
As schools handle their issues, DGS tells 11
News it is responsible for 89 city properties,
managing the airflow systems in 77 of them,
including City Hall. The department began
installing MERV 13-filters in May.
“We've had a stance of continuing to work on the
facilities, find ways to make the facilities
safer,” Chesson said.
General Services says it's replacing air filters
in city buildings every three months. So far,
it's spending $164,000 changing filters now and
again at the end of the year.
Argonne Developing Coatings and Nanofibers for
Masks
They’re known for big science – super computers
and sequencing proteins. But at the same time,
scientists at Argonne National Laboratory simply
want to make better masks.
They’ve been working on ideas since the early
days of the pandemic. And now they’re ready to
roll them out.
Research is being conducted on the 1700-acre
campus in southwest suburban Lemont.
Jeff Elam PhD. and his colleague Anil Mane PhD.
work with chemical coatings and materials.
“When the pandemic hit a lot of us were working
from home but there was sort of a call to arms,”
Elam said.
When COVID-19 hit, they had an idea that
inspired them to quickly return to their lab.
“The masks you and I are wearing now are
intended to prevent droplets from coming out of
our mouth and infecting other people,” Elam
said. “It will catch those droplets. But they
will still remain infective. If you can kill the
microbes, you could make them even more
effective to reduce the spread of the virus.”
They started tinkering with an N95 mask you’d
find at a hardware store.
“Once you take out the mask material there are
different layers,” Mane said.
N95s contain an electrostatic layer of material
that catches tiny viral particles. It’s what
makes them so effective.
But the Argonne team believed a chemical coating
would make the workhorse even more powerful by
killing the viral particles caught in the
fibers.
They experimented on small pieces of N95
material and ran samples through a tube where
vapor pulses applied a specially formulated
antimicrobial coating.
“What we want to do is put a coating, not just
on the surface of that fabric, but inside of
every one of the little fibers that are used to
make that mask so it will be effective at
killing the virus,” Elam said.
Once they found the right formula, they tested
their “catch and kill” material layer against
bacteria and viruses, including a SARS-CoV2
surrogate.
“We tested this mask with antivirus
antibacterial samples, and it’s worked greatly,”
Mane said.
“The coatings are general. Although we developed
them for N95 masks, we think we could just as
easily put them on gloves, protective eyewear
and even on filters for buildings,” Elam said.
Tucked away in a corner of the massive campus,
more mask research is underway.
Materials scientist Yuepeng Zhang PhD. and her
team have been spinning nano-fibers since April
and “making a new N95 filter material that could
be an alternative solution to the commercial
N95,” she said.
It’s made on what looks like a high-tech loom.
Tiny jets spin fibers 1500 times thinner than a
human hair. Their special polymer solution
contains anti-viral ingredients that get
embedded in the fibers.
“We put the anti-viral compound or nano
particles into the electro-spinning solution, so
either way we actually embed the anti-viral
ingredients inside our nano fibers,” Zhang said.
Both the mask shell and thin filter are reusable
and washable using common soapy water, alcohol
or bleach solutions. And the fibers contain an
extra virus-fighting property.
“When people wear masks for a long time, it’s
very uncomfortable and you have a hard time to
breathe,” Zhang said. “You have a better face
fit and more comfort when you wear them.”
The design isn’t just for healthcare workers.
The thin layer can be applied to any piece of
cloth.
The entire team has been working tirelessly
hoping they can make a difference on the
frontline of the pandemic by bringing their
ideas to the assembly line.
Much of the work at Argonne is supported by the
Department of Energy. And now the scientists
there hope to hand off their ideas to
large-scale manufacturers who can bring their
masks to the masses.
Powered Air Purifying Respirator for Everyday
Use
ValhallaMED, a manufacturer of MedTech devices
designed to fight Covid-19, launched the
crowdfunding campaign for the NE-1 Helmet™ on Indiegogo.
Created for anyone, anywhere, the personal
protective gear solves mask-related problems in
the "New Economy" to provide visibility, clarity
and comfort ideal for healthcare professionals,
essential workers, the hearing impaired and
anyone with preexisting health conditions.
The Bluetooth audio and external speakers are
ideal for "close-talkers" and "low-talkers"
alike.
While conventional fabric masks present
breathing challenges, the NE-1 is the
first-of-its-kind powered
air purifying respirator for everyday use.
The smart PPE uses nanofiber filters to remove
more than 95 percent of harmful bacteria and
virus particles in the air while providing
constant, cooling air flow. Each helmet also
comes equipped with an anti-fog, anti-glare face
shield for a 360-field of view and Bluetooth
audio to hear and be heard.
"Face masks have become an everyday essential
and we set out to create a more ideal solution
that would eliminate the need for disposable
masks while offering the height of protection,"
said Chris Ehlinger, founder of ValhallaMED.
"There are still many reasons to meet in person.
Lack of quality air shouldn't inhibit us."
The NE-1 responsibly reopens the economy with an
airtight neoprene seal, allowing effective
coverage against exposure for high-contact
workers. The helmet's unique, ergonomic shape
accommodates a wide range of face sizes to meet
the global demand of high-quality breathing
protection.
The NE-1 Helmet is offered for both men and
women at a retail value of $299. Consumers can
take advantage of the early-bird special and
pre-order on Indiegogo starting at $139.
ValhallaMED is also offering a special reward
level, "Give One, Get One," that provides
helmets to frontline healthcare workers.
"At ValhallaMED, we're on a mission to take back
tomorrow and the most important feature of the
NE-1 helmet is that we are delivering it at
cost. Every extra dollar will go toward getting
the helmet to someone who needs it most,"
finished Ehlinger.
Biodegradable Mask Developed in UAE
A 100 per cent biodegradable mask
has been developed in the UAE, it was announced
on Monday. A team of researchers from the
Khalifa University developed the first working
prototypes of the environment-friendly NavaMASK.
It is a fully biodegradable and biocompatible
anti-viral adaptive face mask. It is made of
nano-fibers, giving it strong anti-microbial
properties.
“We recognized the need for an
environment-friendly alternative to the
currently available face masks in the market,
(while) ... maintaining the highest safety and
breathability standards," said Dr Shadi W. Hasan,
associate professor chemical engineering at
Khalifa University. "The first prototypes of the
NavaMASK is fully biodegradable. It's made of
filtration materials that were carefully
selected to provide effective protection, avoid
skin irritation and, most importantly, be safe
on the environment."
The face mask has perpendicular arranged
nanofibers with a diameter ranging between 100
and 600 nanometers which will allow air to pass
through, but reject particles, bacteria and
viruses. The mask's strong anti-microbial
properties will ensure more than 99 per cent
removal of bacteria.
"It is expected that NavaMask will compete and
outperform many of the existing face masks in
the market," said Hasan. "We are working
together with our collaborators and partners
towards developing a new second generation
design of NavaMASK aimed at maintaining high
removal efficiency and high comfortability and
easier breathability with fewer layers.
iMune Nanofiber Filter and Electric Shield
iMune has launched a smart nanofiber electric
shield,
iMune says
its masks are cost effective in comparison with
alternatives including surgical masks,
disposable masks, N95 masks, and reusable
respirators, and they provide total protection
with an airtight seal, PMO.3 microns particle
filtration efficacy, air filtration and
purification, and comfort. iMune masks protect
against viruses as small as 0.01 microns,
particulate matter down to PM2.5, formaldehyde,
harmful gases, and allergens.
What truly sets iMune masks apart are a smart
fan and motor that efficiently purify air that's
being breathed in and out.
The filters, which are class 5 super composite
filters, can last for seven days with the fan on
high speed and feature high density fiber
filtration, crystalline activated carbon, and
are both HEPA H11 medical grade and a PP cotton
sterilization filter. Due to the sterilizing
components in the filter, it is capable of
neutralizing and killing anything that tries to
get through it.
In addition, silent yet strong engine features
three speed settings and can last up to eight
hours per charge. A USB charging cord is
included with the mask. Also included in the box
are three filter covers, a headband, an ear
band, an anti-dust bag, and a user manual.
For people who are tired of their skin being
irritated by masks, iMune has used baby food
grade soft silicone in the design to reduce and
even eliminate irritation for total comfort.
Nanofiber Masks can be Sterilized Multiple Times
without Filter Performance Deterioration
Schematic diagram on spraying and dipping
treatments of face mask filters.
Credit: ©2020 American Chemical Society
With the global spread of coronavirus
infections, personal protective equipment,
especially face masks, are receiving much
attention. Masks are essential items for the
primary protection of the respiratory tract from
viruses and bacteria that are transmitted
through the air as droplets.
N95 masks are currently difficult to obtain, so
there is an urgent need for a safe method of
prolonging their usability through disinfection
and reuse with minimal loss of performance and
integrity. Particulate filtration and air
permeability are key factors in determining
performance while cleaning and disinfecting N95
certified masks. This is crucial in preventing
infections. Shinshu University has a track
record of conducting research on production
methods and applications of "nanofiber non-woven
fabric" since before the coronavirus outbreak.
Amidst the current social backdrop, a research
team led by Professor Ick Soo Kim of Shinshu
University's Institute for Fiber Engineering
(IFES) with Ph.D. students Sana Ullah and Azeem
Ullah and Professor Cha Hyung Joon of POSTECH
(specially invited professor of IFES) with Ph.D.
students Jaeyun Lee and Yeonsu Jeong, looked
into the effectiveness of sterilizing N95 masks.
They looked at commercially available melt-blown
nonwoven fabric N95 masks and nonwoven nanofiber
masks with N95 filters. They examined the
filtration efficiency, comfort of the wearer,
and filter shape change after washing and
disinfecting. The methods of disinfection test
involved directly spraying 75% ethanol on the
mask filter and air drying and soaking the mask
filter in 75% ethanol solution for 5 minutes to
24 hours and leaving it to air dry naturally.
Evaluation of breathing comfort by infrared
thermal camera.
Credit: © 2020 American Chemical Society
Filtration efficiency of both of the filters
(melt-blown filter and the nanofiber filter) was
95% or more before use, which indicates that the
respiratory organs of the wearer can be
effectively protected. The tests also clarified
that the inside of the filter can be effectively
sterilized by spraying ethanol three times or
more or immersing it in an ethanol solution for
more than five minutes.
However, when the
mask was reused after the ethanol disinfection,
the filtration efficiency of the melt-blown
filter decreased to 64%. On the other hand, the
nanofiber filter did not deteriorate in filter
performance even after ten or more uses.
Melt-blown filters work on the principle of
electrostatic charge for the removal of
particulate matter, as in the result of ethanol
spraying or dipping the electrostatic charge on
the surface of melt-blown filter was lost, so
efficiency of melt-blown filter was
significantly decreased. On the other hand,
filtration mechanism of nanofiber filter is
independent of static charge and fully dependent
on pore diameter, pore distribution, and
morphology of nanofibers. As in the result of
disinfection, morphology of nanofibers was not
affected, thus it also maintained its filtration
as optimum as it was before use.
In addition, the nanofiber filter has higher
heat emission and carbon dioxide emission
performance than the melt-blown filter and
exhibits excellent breathability. Similarly, it
was confirmed that the nanofiber filter had
lower cytotoxicity than the melt-blown filter
when a safety experiment using human skin and
vascular cells was performed.
Comparison of mask filter performance after
ethanol disinfection: The nanofiber filter has
air permeability even after being washed. The
melt-blown filter has its mesh structure changed
by ethanol sterilization and its performance is
deteriorated.
Credit: © 2020 American Chemical Society
As stated above, both mask filters have similar
filtering performance at the time of first use,
but after disinfecting and reusing, the
nanofiber filter does not exhibit performance
deterioration. In other words, nanofiber filters
can be easily sterilized with ethanol at home
and reused multiple times.
"This research is an experimental verification
of the biological safety of nanofiber masks and
the maintenance of filtration efficiency after
washing, which has recently become a problem,"
Professor Cha Hyung Joon states, who co-presided
the research. Professor Ick Soo Kim hopes that nanofiber masks
will serve as a means of prevention in the
second and third wave of coronavirus infections.
