Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Advanced Nanofiber Filter Kit for Mitigating Air Toxics
EPA Contract Number: 68HERC25C0014Title: Advanced Nanofiber Filter Kit for Mitigating Air Toxics
Investigators: Sadique, Sarder
Small Business: ENF Products, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: December 16, 2024 through June 15, 2025
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2025) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
ENF Products, LLC is developing a simple and effective upgrade to existing air filters, aimed at improving indoor air quality by capturing harmful gases and microscopic particles, including bacteria and mold. The innovation, called the ENF Filter, is produced using the company’s patent-pending roll-to-roll technology, which enables the fabrication of advanced air filter fabrics. This lightweight filter sheet is designed to sit atop standard air filters, significantly enhancing their performance without requiring full system replacement.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The ENF Filter is manufactured through a process that creates ultra-fine fibers—thinner than a strand of human hair. These fibers are layered to trap harmful pollutants more effectively than many conventional filters, which typically target either gases or germs, but not both. By integrating both capabilities into one easy-to-use layer, the ENF Filter helps protect people from breathing unhealthy air in homes, hospitals, laboratories, vehicles, and commercial buildings.
This project marked ENF Products’ first Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. With this critical support, the company successfully designed and built a custom roll-to-roll machine—a unique platform that enables continuous, scalable production of the ENF Filter, laying the groundwork for expanded manufacturing in Phase II. This innovation sets ENF Products apart by enabling high-volume, cost-effective production of advanced filtration materials.
Laboratory testing demonstrated that the ENF Filter can capture approximately 3.8 times more airborne pathogens and pollutants than standard commercial air filter materials. It also performed effectively in blocking formaldehyde, a common indoor air contaminant found in hospital and university pathology labs.
Conclusions:
The ENF Filter is cost-effective, biodegradable, and designed for extended use—helping to reduce waste and prolong the life of traditional filters. It is intended for wide adoption in schools, healthcare facilities, residential buildings, and industrial settings, offering a practical and affordable solution for improving air quality without the need for major infrastructure upgrades.
Support from this first SBIR Phase I award enabled ENF Products, LLC to transform an innovative concept into a working product and scalable manufacturing system. With these foundational tools now in place, the company is poised to deliver sustainable, accessible clean air solutions to a broad range of users.
The 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.