Microwave-Irradiation-Assisted HVAC Filtration for Inactivation of Viral Aerosols (Postprint)
Abstract
Viral aerosols collected on a filter medium can reaerosolize and the filter can serve as a fomite. This study evaluated the inactivation efficiency (IE) achieved by filtration coupled with microwave irradiation. To test in-flight microwave decontamination, microwave irradiation was applied to coupons cut from a ventilation filter and supported on a SiC disk during three cycles of selected irradiation times (1, 2.5, 5, and 10 min) per 10 min of delivery of microwave power at levels ranging from 125 to 375 W. The survival fraction (SF) on the substrate and the IE through the entire system were investigated to determine the efficacy of this approach. SF decreased and IE increased as microwave power level increased or the application time was extended. Both measures changed sharply above a threshold temperature of ~90 ?C reaching -2 logs at 116 and 2 logs at 109 ?C, respectively. Operating on a SiC disk (to facilitate microwave absorption at 375 W for 10 min/cycle, log SF and IE were -2.59 and 3.62, respectively, when the. On a quartz frit instead of the SiC disk, the same power regime caused log IEs of 0.8, 1.0, and 1.3 at relative humidities of 30%, 60% and 90%, respectively. The results demonstrate that microwave-assisted filtration systems can be used as an effective means for inactivating viruses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA568828
Entities
People
- Adam Grippin
- Chang-yu Wu
- Joseph D. Wander
- Myung-heui Woo
Organizations
- University of Florida