Filter for Airborne Pollutants and Pesticides

Recent terrorist activities leave no question that protection systems for warriors will need to address pesticide and pollutant filtration. Although filters are currently available for particulates, there remains a need for regenerating, signature-less filters that can trap pesticides and biological pollutants. Under Phase II, eSpin proposes to develop and fabricate engineered prototypes of self-regenerating polymer and carbon nanofiber based composite air filters. Electrospun nanofibers, which have an extremely high surface area and very small pores, will be produced to trap and neutralize fine particles, aerosols and pesticide vapors. The architecture will be tailored by varying fiber diameter and fiber packing fraction. The nanofibers will be carbonized and activated for optimum performance. The filter will be designed to regenerate itself by electrically heating the carbon nanofibers, burning off biological agents and pesticide aerosols, and desorbing pesticide vapors. The desorbed vapors will be destroyed by passing them through a post-filter in which the fibers have their surfaces modified to generate singlet oxygen, which is known to destroy pesticides. Carbon nanofibers will absorb pollutants, while the post-filter will oxidize pollutants. At the end of the Phase II, eSpin will have developed light weight nanofiber based, regenerating, low-pressure air filters for eliminating pesticides and pollutants.