NANOPOROUS FILTERS FOR SIMULTANEOUS REMOVAL OF VOC AND PARTICULATES FROM AIR

Indoor air in work places, automobiles, recreation settings and homes is one ofthe major sources of direct human exposure to particulates, chemicals and diseasecausing bacteria. Recent estimates suggest that more than 98% of theseparticulate pollutants are very small (less than 1 ) and, therefore, cannot beeffectively filtered by exiting filters. These particulates are also know to becarriers of chemicals such as volatile organic compounds (VOC) and bacteria.Therefore, it is very important that a low cost, low pressure drop, highefficiency filter that can effectively remove these particulate pollutants bedeveloped. Nanomaterials Research Corporation will during this program develop26nanoporous filters from proprietary precursors that have the ability to filtersub-micron particulates efficiently and also completely mineralize any VOC in thefeed air stream. Phase I will establish the proof-of-concept that nanoporousfilters can be produced and the filters can simultaneously remove VOC andparticulates from air. Phase II will systematically develop and optimizenanoporous filters, and Phase II will commercialize the technology.