Porous Coating for Aerosol Pathogen Inactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air decontamination technologies, such as filtration, photocatalysis, and thermal heating, are inadequate for effectively inactivating aerosolized viruses and other pathogens due to limited efficiency, safety concerns, and the thermal and chemical stability of aerosolized contaminants, which require longer residence times than typical air handling systems can provide.
Innovation Solution
A material structure comprising a macroscopic porous substrate with a porous coating having interconnected pores and active sites, designed to prolong the transit time of contaminants, facilitate entrapment, and inactivate pathogens through catalytic, thermal, or radiation effects, while being non-toxic and suitable for incorporation into personal protective equipment and air purification systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal heating is used to inactivate aerosolized viruses, then inactivation effectiveness is improved, but residence time requirement increases beyond typical air handling system capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from conventional thermal heating (requiring high temperatures and long residence times) to catalytic combustion (achieving inactivation at lower temperatures with shorter residence times). The catalytic material enables the same inactivation effect under different thermal conditions, resolving the time-effectiveness contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical thermal heating system with a catalytic chemical system. Instead of relying on bulk thermal energy transfer that requires long residence times, the catalytic material provides a chemical pathway for rapid inactivation, substituting a slower physical process with a faster chemical reaction.
2Reliability
If UV photocatalysis is used to inactivate pathogens, then inactivation capability is improved, but safety deteriorates due to release of hazardous by-products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs catalytic combustion using strong oxidizing conditions to completely decompose organic contaminants including pathogens. This complete oxidation pathway avoids the partial degradation products and hazardous by-products associated with UV photocatalysis, achieving both inactivation capability and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of incomplete photocatalytic degradation (which produces hazardous by-products) into benefit by using catalytic combustion that ensures complete oxidation. The same oxidative power that could create harmful intermediates is harnessed under controlled catalytic conditions to achieve complete mineralization into harmless CO2 and H2O.
3Productivity
If filtration is used to remove bioaerosols, then physical removal is achieved, but inactivation effectiveness deteriorates due to limited ability to inactivate contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the physical filtration function with the chemical inactivation function into a single integrated system. The catalytic material is deposited on the filter structure, so that particles are simultaneously captured and inactivated, eliminating the need for separate filtration and disinfection stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses porous catalytic materials with controlled pore sizes that enable both physical trapping of aerosol particles and catalytic inactivation within the pore structure. The porous architecture provides high surface area for catalytic activity while maintaining filtration capability, achieving dual functionality.
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
The material structure achieves high efficiency in inactivating aerosolized pathogens and particulate contaminants, with the ability to treat over 70% of contaminants in a single pass, providing a safer environment by enhancing the interaction time and inactivation of viruses, bacteria, and fungi, and is applicable for both air and liquid decontamination.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of active sites disposed on an internal surface of at least one of said interconnected passages (e.g., pores)... inactivate pathogens through catalytic, thermal, or radiation effects
Implementation Method 2
facilitate entrapment... enhancing the interaction time and inactivation of viruses, bacteria, and fungi
Implementation Method 3
inactivate pathogens through catalytic, thermal, or radiation effects
Implementation Method 4
inactivate pathogens through catalytic, thermal, or radiation effects
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a material structure is disclosed, which includes a macroscopic porous substrate configured to receive a flow of a medium for passage of at least a portion thereof through the porous substrate. At least one porous coating is disposed on at least a portion of an inner surface of the porous substrate, wherein the porous coating comprises a matrix having a plurality of interconnected passages. The porous substrate and the coating are configured to treat at least one contaminant, if any, present in the flowing medium.