Engineers replace a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter from a Boeing 747-8i plane at its hangar in Seoul on July 27, 2020, in a special inspection of the airplane’s air circulation systems and HEPA filters. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 4 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea Institute of Energy Research said Tuesday it had developed a photothermal HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter that eradicates fine and ultrafine dust as well as viruses.
The research team coated commercial HEPA filters with photothermal materials like metal nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, which turn light energy into heat, and used an LED lighting system to expose the filter to visible light with a uniformity of 95 percent.
The research team said the filter was capable of eradicating 99.9 percent of viruses and germs and rooting out any possible factors for secondary proliferation.
In an experiment eradicating influenza virus (H1N1pdm09) and COVID-19 virus which the filter had collected, 99.9 percent of the influenza virus, and more than 99 percent of the COVID-19 virus were killed after being exposed to visible light for 10 to 15 minutes.
The researchers also noted that 99.9 percent of the COVID-19 viruses were killed when exposed to a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius or higher.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
