- Researchers have developed an air filter capable of killing the coronavirus on contact.
- The filtration system exposes the coronavirus to levels of heat that the virus simply cannot bear.
- The research team believes their system will be incredibly useful in places like hospitals, schools, and local businesses.
Researchers from the University of Houston recently developed a filtration system that can instantly neutralize and kill 99.8% of the coronavirus after a single step. The discovery was originally published in Materials Today Physics some days ago. The breakthrough is especially intriguing since the coronavirus can stay in the air for hours and, in turn, can spread more easily than viruses like the common flu. And now that companies like comedy clubs and restaurants are reopening, a filtration system capable of decimating the coronavirus on contact is more than helpful.
“This filter could be useful in airports and airplanes, in office buildings, schools, and cruise ships to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Zhifeng Ren, co-author of the research article in a press release.
As for the technology behind the air filtration system, the study notes that the coronavirus simply cannot withstand temperatures above 158 degrees. Consequently, the filtration system works extremely hot, tuned to 392 degrees, and is capable of effectively killing the coronavirus on contact. The system itself is largely composed of readily available nickel foam.
Ren explains that the use of nickel foam was key, as it helped the research team meet a number of comprehensive design requirements.
“It is porous, allowing air flow, and electrically conductive, which allowed it to heat up,” Ren said in a statement. “It is also flexible.”
The University of Houston explained the design process in a statement:
But nickel foam has low resistivity, making it difficult to raise the temperature enough to quickly kill the virus. The researchers solved that problem by folding the foam, connecting multiple compartments with electrical wires to increase resistance enough to raise the temperature up to 250 degrees C.
By making the filter electrically heated, rather than heating it from an external source, the researchers said they minimized the amount of heat escaping from the filter, allowing the air conditioner to operate at minimal voltage.
As it stands now, a prototype air filtration system has performed extremely well. Looking ahead, Ren expects the device, which meets the current requirements for an HVAC system, to start rolling off the production line sooner rather than later.
While the system itself is not nearly as close to being as effective as a vaccine, it could prove incredibly useful as storefronts continue to open. Additionally, the research team believes the device will help improve security in places where workers and people are especially vulnerable to the virus, with schools, hospitals and public transport being three prime examples.
Longtime Mac user and Apple enthusiast, Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry in general for over 6 years. Her writing has appeared on Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and more recently, TUAW. When not writing and analyzing the latest happenings with Apple, Yoni likes to watch improv shows in Chicago, play soccer, and cultivate new addictions to television shows, the most recent examples being The Walking Dead and Broad City.
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