Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Low-Cost, Regenerable Air Filter for Efficient Gaseous Pollutants Removal
EPA Contract Number: EPD14017Title: Low-Cost, Regenerable Air Filter for Efficient Gaseous Pollutants Removal
Investigators: Junaedi, Christian
Small Business: Precision Combustion, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: May 1, 2014 through April 30, 2015
Project Amount: $99,897
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Air Quality and Air Toxics , SBIR - Air Pollution Monitoring and Control
Description:
Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) developed a regenerable, low-cost, high- efficiency pollution control technology for removal of gaseous pollutants from contaminated air streams. This innovative air filter technology combines the company’s novel proprietary Microlith® support elements with sorbent nanomaterials that can be tailored to capture a variety of targeted gaseous pollutants. Originally developed for spacecraft and space station cabin atmosphere revitalization systems, Microlith®-based adsorbers have been demonstrated to be superior (i.e., lower power consumption, lighter, and smaller size) to existing technologies, such as pellets and monoliths. Additionally, this technology offers the benefits of low pressure drop, rapid in-situ regeneration, high adsorbent utilization, longer adsorbent life, design modularity and adsorbent flexibility, as well as tunability and control of desorption rate and adsorbent bed temperature. These features support a system offering reliably high air quality at a lower lifecycle cost than is achieved with disposable filter-based systems and in a form factor that is suitable for retrofit installation within building HVAC systems.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
A bench-scale, proof-of-concept adsorbent air filter was developed and examined. The operating conditions were developed and optimized. The ability of the air filter technology to effectively remove a wide spectrum of gaseous pollutants and chemical contaminants—including typical indoor VOC’s, CO2 and ammonia—was demonstrated. The air filter also showed thermal stability and ability to maintain greater than 90 percent adsorption activity following exposures to chemical contaminants in ambient air for multiple adsorption-desorption cycles. The air filter can be regenerated using a direct resistive approach by applying electric current directly on the Microlith® metal mesh filter supports. The regeneration process was quick and required very low power per CFM of air treated. A low pressure drop across the air filter was demonstrated. The prototype’s ability to capture and release the VOCs with tunable adsorption and regeneration kinetics also was demonstrated.
Conclusions:
Supplemental Keywords:
gas pollutants, air stream, adsorber, filter, air qualitySBIR Phase II:
Low-Cost, Regenerable Air Filter for Efficient Gaseous Pollutants Removal | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.