2022/03/09 by Rowan Watson, Morwenna Oldfield, Jack A. Bryant +8 · 52 citations
Medicine · Environmental Science · Mathematics · #Infection Control and Ventilation #Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure #COVID-19 epidemiological studies #Antimicrobial #Air filter #Biocide #Microbiology #Candida albicans #Biology #Medicine
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s41598-022-06579-9
published in Scientific Reports 12(1), 2803 (Nature Portfolio)
openalex publication_date 2022/03/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the real need for mechanisms to control the spread of airborne respiratory pathogens. Thus, preventing the spread of disease from pathogens has come to the forefront of the public consciousness. This has brought an increasing demand for novel technologies to prioritise clean air. In this study we report on the efficacy of novel biocide treated filters and their antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi and viruses. The antimicrobial filters reported here are shown to kill pathogens, such as Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and MRSA in under 15 min and to destroy SARS-CoV-2 viral particles in under 30 s following contact with the filter. Through air flow rate testing, light microscopy and SEM, the filters are shown to maintain their structure and filtration function. Further to this, the filters are shown to be extremely durable and to maintain antimicrobial activity throughout the operational lifetime of the product. Lastly, the filters have been tested in field trials onboard the UK rail network, showing excellent efficacy in reducing the burden of microbial species colonising the air conditioning system.