Effect of Environmental Parameters on the Biocidal Performance of Iodine-Treated Filters
Abstract
Iodine-treated filter media were challenged at a face velocity of 14.2 cm/s by Bacillus subtilis spores and MS2 bacteriophage aerosols generated from a Collison nebulizer. The novel medium displayed excellent viable removal efficiency (VRE) for bacterial spores with a negligible pressure drop in various environmental conditions, suggesting an alternative to HEPA filters for the removal of bacterial spore aerosols. Different filter media tested for viral aerosols showed VRE >90% but lower than that for bacterial spores, with negligible variation in the pressure drop. The iodine-treated filter showed higher VRE than that of the untreated filters, possibly due to sublimation and dissolution of iodine molecules at HT/LRH and RT/MRH, respectively. Insignificant difference was observed between the (minimal) survival fractions of viral particles caught on iodine-treated and untreated filters at the same environmental condition, indicating negligible effect of iodine treatment of these particles. Encasement of microorganisms is a possible problem in the efficacy of an antimicrobial filter because the viability of microorganisms is preserved when shielded from disinfection agents. A condensation nuclei concept using water vapor was tested and shown to be an effective device for enhancing condensation and improving efficiency of collection of virus-containing aerosols smaller than ~100 nm. However, the problem of losses to reentrainment of bioparticles as air bubbles break in the impinger remains to be solved.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA478330
Entities
People
- Alexandros D. Theodore
- Chang-yu Wu
- Jin-hwa Lee
- Lindsey Reiemenschneider
Organizations
- University of Florida