BGU Water Researcher Develops Self-Sterilizing Air Filter
BGU Water Researcher Develops Self-Sterilizing Air Filter
April 24, 2020
News Medical — With the worldwide focus on coronavirus prevention and transmission, a new type of air filter that self-sterilizes and decontaminates is being developed by Dr. Chris Arnusch, of BGU’s Department of Desalination and Water Treatment at its Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research.
Dr. Chris Arnusch
Based on water filtration technology, the new nanotechnology uses laser-induced graphene (LIG) water filters that eliminate viruses and bacteria in water.
This new concept, engineered for air-filtration, could be used in air filters in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, or integrated into face masks for a self-sterilizing effect.
Most masks will become contaminated during usage, including the N95 respirator mask, and if not properly used or handled, becomes a contamination risk.
LIG is a microporous graphene foam that can be generated on many types of materials. LIG on water filters provides an active protection with simultaneous contamination removal and disinfection.
The LIG is already resistant to bacteria and actively kills microbes and viruses using a low-level electric current from a power source. The researchers envision the two-fold protective system applied to air-filtration.
“The bacterial-resistant graphene surface protects against microorganisms so they can’t multiply, while the microbes trapped in the filter are eliminated by electrical effects,” says Dr. Arnusch.
If such a material is incorporated into a mask, a higher level of protection for medical providers, as well as the general population, could be possible.”
Surgical masks are mainly designed to protect others, and can actually spread bacteria when they become moist or used improperly. An active LIG air filter in a mask would work during inhalation and exhalation, allowing protection for both the wearer and others in close contact, as well as eliminate the risks of handling a contaminated material.
“This new research direction in the Arnusch lab builds upon collaborative research at BGU combining nanomaterials and filtration, providing a new solution in our fight against COVID-19,” says Doug Seserman, Americans for Ben-Gurion University’s chief executive officer. “We hope this new face mask concept can be validated and produced as soon as possible.”
Learn more about BGU’s COVID-19 Response Effort >>
Stories Like This
