Coronavirus
Technology Solutions
Biota Launches
COVID-19
Diagnostic in
Wastewater
A
First-Of-Its-Kind
Antimicrobial
Stainless Steel
KYMIRA has Two
Nanofiber Layers
to Maximize Mask
Efficiency
_________________________________________________________________________
Biota
Technology, a
pioneer of
industrial
genomics,
announced the
creation of a
new business
line to manage
pathogen risk in
the
post-pandemic
economy.
"I've never been
more excited
about Biota's
vision to
pioneer
industrial
genomics across
multiple
sectors,"
said Mathias
Schlecht, Chief
Executive
Officer. "With a
global footprint
in the energy
market and
rapidly growing
market for
pathogen risk
management,
Biota has the
corporate
strategy,
commercial
scale, and
technical
capabilities to
develop new
solutions across
the industrial
sector and
create a
billion-dollar
enterprise."
A
First-Of-Its-Kind
Antimicrobial
Stainless Steel
AMI and PCI are
actively seeking
licensing
partners for
this
antimicrobial
technology. Inquiries
can be directed
by email to AMI
at info@admedinno.com.
Copper Foam as a
Highly
Efficient,
Durable Filter
for Reusable
Masks and Air
Cleaners
The researchers
fabricated metal
foams by
harvesting
electrodeposited
copper nanowires
and casting them
into a
free-standing 3D
network, which
was solidified
with heat to
form strong
bonds. A second
copper layer was
added to further
strengthen the
material. In
tests, the
copper foam held
its form when
pressurized and
at high air
speeds,
suggesting it’s
durable for
reusable
facemasks or air
filters and
could be cleaned
with washing or
compressed air.
The team found
the metal foams
had excellent
filtration
efficiency for
particles within
the 0.1-1.6 µm
size range,
which is
relevant for
filtering out
SARS-CoV-2.
Their most
effective
material was a
2.5 mm-thick
version, with
copper taking up
15% of the
volume. This
foam had a large
surface area and
trapped 97% of
0.1-0.4 µm
aerosolized salt
particles, which
are commonly
used in facemask
tests. According
to the team’s
calculations,
the
breathability of
their foams was
generally
comparable to
that of
commercially
available
polypropylene
N95 facemasks.
Because the new
material is
copper-based,
the filters
should be
resistant to
cleaning agents,
allowing for
many
disinfection
options, and its
antimicrobial
properties will
help kill
trapped bacteria
and viruses, say
the researchers.
In addition,
they are
recyclable. The
researchers
estimate that
the materials
would cost
around $2 per
mask at present,
and disinfection
and reuse would
extend their
lifetime, making
them
economically
competitive with
current
products.
The authors
acknowledge
funding from the
Georgetown
Environmental
Initiative
3M HVAC Filters
have Viral
Removal
Efficiencies
from 60% to 90%
An experimental
study was
carried out to
investigate
effectiveness of
residential HVAC
filters at
removing
airborne virus
particles. MS-2
bacteriophage
organisms were
grown on
appropriate
media,
harvested,
resuspended in
saline, and then
aerosolized into
the ASHRAE 52.2
test duct using
a nebulizer.
Upstream and
downstream air
samples were
taken using SKC
BioStage cascade
impactors. The
collection
plates were
incubated, and
the recovered
plaque-forming
units (PFU) were
enumerated to
determine the
filtration
efficiency of
filters against
virus particles.
Test results for
4-inch depth (20
x 25 x 4) filter
are shown
below..
John Zhang,
Ph.D., is a
senior product
development
specialist at
3M’s
Construction and
Home Improvement
Markets
Division. Doug
Huntley, Ph.D.,
is senior global
R&D manager for
3M, having spent
the last 25
years with the
company
developing the
people and
products to
deliver novel,
high-value
solutions to a
range of
industries Andy
Fox is a lead
product
development
specialist at
the 3M
Construction and
Home Improvement
Markets
Division. He
specializes in
filter media
development and
holds 42 issued
U.S. patents.
Bryan Gerhardt
is an Advanced
Product
Development
Specialist at
the 3M
Construction and
Home Improvement
Markets
Division.
The full paper
is found in IFN
through the
following link
Lydall Increases
Filter Media
Prices
Lydall announced
that its
Performance
Materials
business segment
is increasing
prices for its
Filtration and
Specialty
Insulation
products
supplied
globally. The
price adjustment
is driven by
significant and
ongoing
increases in key
raw material and
freight costs.
HEPA Room
Purifiers in
Every Classroom
at a Cost of $1
billion
Amid the
stimulus checks
and unemployment
extension in the
$1.9 trillion
relief package
signed into law,
is $130 billion
to help schools
reopen safely —
including for
personal
protective
equipment,
reducing class
sizes and,
importantly,
improving
ventilation.
School safety
measures call to
mind images of
masked students
spread out among
plexiglass-enclosed
desks. But one
of the most
important things
schools can do
might be
something you
can’t see said
Donald Milton, a
professor of
environmental
health at the
University of
Maryland.
“Ventilation is
critical because
respiratory
viruses can be
transmitted by
inhalation,” he
said. “And the
way to cut down
on what people
are inhaling, is
to remove it
from the air.”
But until recent
weeks, the
Centers for
Disease Control
and Prevention
had offered
little guidance
on improving
ventilation in
schools, and
many had turned
to unproven
measures said
Professor Joseph
Allen, director
of the Healthy
Buildings
program at
Harvard.
“This is where
the hygiene
theater has come
into play,” he
said. “You see
someone in
gloves wiping
down every
surface — walls,
and things that
just don’t make
sense.”
Much more
important, he
said, is
ensuring the air
in rooms is
completely
refreshed, known
as air exchange,
about five times
per hour.
That can be
achieved by
adjusting HVAC
systems,
something that
might be tough
for the many
schools with old
and failing air
conditioning.
“So it’s not as
simple as put a
filter in,
you’re going to
have to upgrade
the whole system
to be able to do
that,” said
engineer Maria
Lehman,
treasurer of the
American Society
of Civil
Engineers. The
group gave U.S.
public schools
a D+
in its last
infrastructure
report,
which found more
than 40% of
schools had HVAC
systems in need
of repair.
“It’s of concern
particularly
because of
evidence that
we’re starting
to build, that
air pollution is
harmful to
student
learning,” said
Claudia Persico,
a professor of
public policy at
American
University.
Millions of
students in the
U.S. attend
schools in close
proximity to freeways or other
sources of
pollution,
she said, so
opening windows
to improve
airflow isn’t
always a great
option.
Though having a
window to open
would be a
luxury for New
York special
education
teacher Annie
Tan.
“Right before
COVID hit, I was
in a windowless
classroom,” she
said. “I bought
an air purifier
for my class
because there
was a smell my
classroom.” In fact portable HEPA air purifiers, the kind some people have in their homes, are an effective way to clear viruses from the air.
By one analysis from
Richard Corsi,
an indoor air
expert at
Portland State
University, the
devices could be
installed in
every classroom
in America for
about a billion
dollars.
KYMIRA has Two
Nanofiber Layers
to Maximize Mask
Efficiency
The KYMIRA
K-Mask, with the
integrated
Nanofibre
K-Filter, is
designed to
protect from
viruses,
bacteria and
environmental
particulates,
with a 99.6%
filtration
efficiency. That
is claimed as
one of the best
in the world.
Looking to help
during the
pandemic, KYMIRA
researched and
adjusted one of
its existing
technologies,
it’s electrospun
nanofiber
material, with
partner Radical
Fibres..
Using a triple
sandwich layer,
nanofiber
combination,
the K-filters
have been
designed as a
reusable, world
class filter.
Layer 1:
Nanofibres
capture viruses,
bacteria and
pollutants via
electrostatic
attraction
Layer 2:
Activated carbon
layer for
environmental
pollutants
Layer 3:
Nanofibres
capture viruses,
bacteria and
pollutants via
electrostatic
attraction.
The filters have
been
independently
tested to ASTM
F2100, ASTM
FT101 and EN
1486 standards,
certifying the
99.6% filtration
rating*.
The K-Filter
offer its
protection for
200 hours and
for particles as
small as 0.03
microns. The
effectiveness of
the filtration
level is due to
this microscopic
level of
protection
offered by the
electrospun
nanofibers, that
ionically
attract the
particles before
trapping them
within the
filter layers.
To contextualize
this, the
Covid-19 virus
has a particle
micron size of
0.06 -0.5 and
bacteria has a
particle size of
0.3 microns.
Healthcare
workers on the
front line have
so far been
using N95
rated masks that
have a
particulate
protection size
of 0.3 microns;
so the wearer
can feel
confident in
their protection
when using
the K-Filter.
The nanofibers
within
the K-Filter are
made from
biocompatible
hydrophobic
material which
are elastic and
electrostatic,
meaning they are
highly
breathable,
flexible and
will not become
wet with water
vapor from
breathing, this
also reduces the
carbon dioxide
re-breathing
occurrence that
is a problem
among even
medical grade
respirators.
The K-Mask is
designed to
house the
Nanofibre K-Filter
and is made
from KYMIRA Kynergy
infrared fabric.
The infrared
fabric offers
the wearer
temperature
regulation, due
it it’s
efficiencies in
cellular
excitation and
enhanced
circulation. The
infrared fabric
itself supports
the wearer to
cool or warm,
depending on
need and
provides a
cooling effect
as you inhale,
helping you stay
comfortable
during use. To
note, KYMIRA KYnergy
infrared fabric
is safe to use,
certified by the
FDA as a class 1
medical device
and CE marked.
Designed for
comfort,
prolonged use
and protection,
the fit and
design of the
K-Mask is
claimed to be
second
to none.
Available in
sizes small,
suitable for
smaller or teen
sizes and
medium/large,
the mask is
designed to fit
close to the
wearer, high up
on the nose and
wrapping around
the cheeks
towards the ears
to provide
greater
protection to
and from the
wearer.
The extended
sides offer
pressure
balance, so that
it forces the
inhale and
exhale through
the viral
filtration, even
with use at high
exertion or
during coughing
or sneezing.
This makes
the mask ideal
for not just
everyday
activities but
for work, travel
and playing
sport too. The
nose has a
comfort strip
underneath and a
wired pinch bar
so the wearer
can ensure a
close,
comfortable fit,
with attractive
leather
detailing. The
straps fit
around the head,
fastening on the
crown of the
head and at the
nape of the
neck, providing
comfort for long
use that does
not put pressure
on the ears.
The Nanofibre K-Filters
offer the wearer
200 hours of
viral, bacterial
and pollutant
filtration
protection. Once
this time period
is completed,
the filter can
be replaced with
a fresh filter
and the
protection will
continue.
The masks and
filters can also
be cleaned and
reused during
this 200 hour
period.
The masks and
filters can be
baked in the
oven at 60
degrees and this
will ensure that
all trapped
virus and
bacteria
particles
are killed.
The mask itself
is also machine
washable at 30
degrees. so it
can stay looking
fresh and clean
(please note the
filters should
not go through
the washing
machine, unless
your goal is to
collect the
pollutants in
the washing
machine itself).
The Nanofibre K-Filters
can be used in
the KYMIRA K-Mask,
or any other
reusable mask to
increase the
efficacy of
any mask.
Fibertex
Nonwovens has
developed a
versatile
component –
Adhetex 40A90NP0
– which is
designed to
improve the
filtration
efficiency of
protective face
masks and to
also extend
their safe
storage period.
By utilizing
premium,
high-efficiency
Fibertex
nanofibre layers
in the
production of
protective face
masks, end-users
can expect to
reach N95 and
FFP2 level of
protection.
The main benefit
of Fibertex
nanofibre
layers, being a
purely
mechanical
filtration
layer, is
guaranteed
efficiency of
the filtration
layer during the
lifetime of the
mask.
Another
important
benefit of this
advanced
technology, is
durability of
the nanofiber
layer, which
enables extended
storage time of
masks, making
them suitable
for use as
disaster and
epidemic relief
safety stocks.
Fibertex Adhetex
nano materials
are most
commonly used in
HEPA
(High-Efficiency
Particulate Air)
filters for
masks,
industrial dust
collection, gas
turbine air
inlet
filtration,
air-conditioning
units,
automotive
components and
filters in
domestic vacuum
cleaners.
Fibertex depth
filtration media
– which extend
the service-life
of the filter –
have a gradient
structure
comprising an
initial
pre-filter
layer, a
dust-holding
layer and the
final nanofiber
layer. Media is
available in
various
thicknesses,
depending on
specific
end-user
requirements.
The standard
Adhetex roll is
1.55 m wide x 2
000 m and
requires special
handling to
protect the
delicate
nanofiber
component.
Fibertex
Breathetex 140WH
is one of the
components used
to mold and
shape masks.
This material,
with FFP1 and
FFP 2 / N95
efficiency
levels, is
positioned
adjacent to the
melt-blown and
outer spunbond
layer of the
protective mask.
The standard
Breathetex roll
is 2 400 mm x
200 m and is
available in
typical widths
of 1 200 mm or
200 mm x 200 m.
All Fibertex
products can be
delivered
slitted to
specific end-use
widths required.
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