Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Ultrahigh Efficacy Air Purifier for Airborne Pathogens
EPA Contract Number: 68HERC22C0016Title: Ultrahigh Efficacy Air Purifier for Airborne Pathogens
Investigators: Petruska, Melissa
Small Business: Sonata Scientific LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I (2022) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Homeland Security , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of airborne pathogens and the role they play in transmitting infection. The pandemic will leave a legacy of increased attention on indoor air quality (IAQ). Indoor enclosed spaces are high-risk environments for increased transmission of aerosolized pathogens like COVID-19, SARS, influenza, and other yet-to-emerge diseases. Many crowded environments, including offices, aircraft cabins, classrooms, and public transportation, amplify the threat of aerosolized pathogens. Centralized HVAC systems, while providing a proportion of fresh air, may spread pathogens under certain circumstances. While several air purification solutions are currently available, independent studies have shown many to be much less effective than they claim, particularly under real-world operating conditions. Many emerging technologies do not have third-party test data to substantiate their claims. Approaches employing HEPA filters, which are good at removing airborne pathogens, come with a high cost burden and energy penalty for centralized systems.
The objective of this Phase I program was to determine the technical feasibility of a novel light-activated technology for use in centralized HVAC systems to capture, neutralize, and destroy airborne bacteria and viruses, reducing the concentration of airborne pathogens in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. This approach has a fraction of the pressure drop of a comparable HEPA system, allowing for its addition to existing HVAC systems with limited modification. This technology also eliminates VOCs from the air with greater than 99% single-pass removal efficiency without the release of harmful intermediates or the use of carbon adsorbents, which require changeouts and disposal. When scaled, the system will be deployed to address airborne pathogens in areas where current technologies are ineffective and installation costs of HEPA are prohibitive.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
In Phase I, Sonata Scientific demonstrated the filtration and deactivation performance of a novel light-activated prototype system developed for improving IAQ. The approach is effective for a broadband range of airborne pathogens. Phase I demonstrated a 99% removal of airborne MS2 bacteriophage, a surrogate for influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2, and a 99+% removal of airborne Staphylococcus epidermidis, a surrogate for a wide range of medically significant pathogens, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), from a 1 m3 chamber in 30 minutes, based on third-party test results. Deactivation of the captured pathogens with UVA light was rapid, with greater than 6-log removal of MS2 bacteriophage in 5 minutes and greater than 99.99% S. epidermidis killed in 30 minutes. The current prototype system has a pressure drop of 134 Pa with required reactor components contributing less than 50 Pa to this total.
Conclusions:
The Phase I results validate Sonata Scientific's, low-pressure-drop, UVA-activated technology for the removal of airborne pathogens from enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. This technology addresses both VOCs and airborne pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungal spores, which uniquely positions it as a competitive approach for improving IAQ. Third-party testing of a prototype system showed efficient reduction of both viral and bacteria pathogens in an enclosed space, with 99% net reduction in only 30 minutes. The demonstrated high deactivation efficiencies of the technology ensure that once captured, live pathogens will not be re-released into the air. This pathogen deactivation feature of the technology is critical in situations where there is the potential for pathogens to survive and thrive on filters. The pressure drop of the system is a fraction of a newly installed HEPA filter, making it a highly effective alternative to improving indoor air quality in environments where HEPA cannot be used.
More than 20 interviews were conducted with stakeholders in the ecosystem for the envisioned product. This market investigation identified a strong need for centralized approaches to IAQ, particularly for airborne pathogen removal. Product value propositions were defined for several market segments including commercial buildings, healthcare settings, and schools. A product vision was created to address this need.
SBIR Phase II:
Ultrahigh Efficacy Air Purifier for Airborne PathogensThe 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.