Diffusive Sorbent Air Purifier for Low-Cost Indoor Pollutant Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air purifiers are expensive, not well validated, and ineffective in removing common indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, and nitrogen dioxide, with no reasonably priced alternatives available.
Innovation Solution
A diffusive air purifier using a chemical sorbent within a permeable container, employing a chemical reaction to immobilize specific air pollutants, with a cost-effective manufacturing process and validation methods to ensure efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If commercial air purifiers are used to remove dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, or nitrogen dioxide, then air purification effectiveness is improved, but device cost increases significantly to $500-$1500
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable sorbent cartridges containing chemical sorbents that can be easily replaced. These cartridges are designed to be inexpensive and single-use, eliminating the need for expensive commercial air purifiers. The sorbent material is impregnated on a porous support and contained in a simple housing that can be manufactured at low cost and discarded after consuming the sorbent capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential function of air purification by using a simple diffusive container with sorbent material, removing complex mechanical systems found in commercial purifiers. The device takes out the core capability of removing chemicals through chemical reactions, eliminating unnecessary components while maintaining effectiveness.
2Reliability
If existing air purifiers claim to remove formaldehyde and other chemicals, then purification capability is improved, but validation reliability deteriorates as they are not well validated and may not serve intended purpose
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates validation methods that provide feedback on the sorbent's effectiveness. The sorbent capacity is measured and specified, allowing users to know when replacement is needed. The diffusive air purifier design allows for controlled validation through measurement of chemical removal efficiency, ensuring the device actually performs its intended function rather than making unvalidated claims.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical sorbent reacts with airborne chemical to remove pollutant, then air quality improvement is achieved, but device complexity increases due to need for permeable container and sorbent integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the container and sorbent into a single integrated diffusive air purifier unit. The permeable container walls are directly impregnated with the chemical sorbent, combining the housing and filtration functions into one component. This integration simplifies the device structure while maintaining the chemical reaction capability for air quality improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses porous materials for the container walls and sorbent support, allowing air to diffuse through while the sorbent chemicals remain contained. The porous structure enables the chemical reactions to occur throughout the material volume, improving air quality without requiring complex mechanical filtration systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively removes targeted air pollutants at low cost, producing a stable product without additional pollutants, and providing a predictable lifetime through measured sorption capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a chemical sorbent or a precursor thereof contained within the permeable container, said chemical sorbent having a chemical composition selected to achieve removal of a predetermined air pollutant via a chemical reaction that renders the predetermined air pollutant immobile
Implementation Method 2
The air purifier device removes chemicals from the air through adsorption and/or absorption processes
Implementation Method 3
The inventive device relies on the diffusion of contaminants with ambient air into the device and onto a sorbent
Data Source
AI summary
A diffusive air purifier includes an air permeable container containing a chemical sorbent or a sorbent precursor. The sorbent has a chemical composition selected to achieve removal of an air pollutant via a chemical reaction that renders the predetermined air pollutant immobile. A method of manufacturing the diffusive air purifier includes impregnating a porous solid with a solution of sorbent precursor and a binding agent and drying the porous solid. A method of purifying indoor air includes detecting a measured concentration of an airborne chemical in an enclosed location; selecting the diffusive air purifier to adsorb the airborne chemical; and placing the diffusive air purifier in the enclosed location. Air diffuses through the outer container and into the sorbent where the chemical to be removed is retained. Air, free of the target chemical, diffuses out of the container and the process repeats.