Abstract
This study investigated the correlation between the antibacterial ability of silver nanoparticle air filters with the related dust loading. In addition, a decay equation with which the life cycle of the antibacterial air filters could be predicted was developed. Samples of a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter were coated with an antibacterial agent, silver nanoparticles, which were synthesized via an atmospheric spark discharge method and deposited onto the filters using forced convection flow. A specific amount of dust particles was then blown onto each filter sample. Two kinds of bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), representing Gram-negative bacteria, and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), representing Gram-positive bacteria, were used in order to examine the antibacterial abilities of the filter samples. The results of the disc diffusion method showed that the dust loading adversely affected the antibacterial efficacy. However, the silver nanoparticle mass density on a filter with a certain amount of dust does increase the antibacterial ability to a certain extent. Finally, decay equations for the decline rates of the antibacterial ability against E. coli and S. epidermidis were obtained with a dimensionless pressure drop across the antibacterial filter samples.
Highlights
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which are designed and widely operated in order to provide improved air quality in indoor environments, are required to ensure acceptable temperature, humidity, and air movement, and to control various particle pollutants or biological aerosols and to keep humans healthy (Barhate and Ramakrishna, 2007; Yu et al, 2009)
This study investigated the correlation between the antibacterial ability of silver nanoparticle air filters with the related dust loading
From the data in this study, we suggest that the relationship between κ and for a certain antibacterial filter can be empirically expressed as the general solution of the natural decay equation, d /dκ = –a, as follows: Fig. 6
Summary
Ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which are designed and widely operated in order to provide improved air quality in indoor environments, are required to ensure acceptable temperature, humidity, and air movement, and to control various particle pollutants or biological aerosols and to keep humans healthy (Barhate and Ramakrishna, 2007; Yu et al, 2009). The filtration of airborne microorganisms is being studied widely using theory and mathematical models based on general particle size distribution (Kowalski et al, 1999). Resistant bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis can exist on the filter media while maintaining its viability (Wang et al, 1999). Park et al (2011) reported the antibacterial efficiency of the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) deposited glass fiber air filter. They generated Fe nanoparticles for the activation of the air filter using a spark discharger system and deposited the MWCNT onto the air filters by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.
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