The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for advanced air filtration technologies to combat airborne virus transmission. Existing filtration methods primarily capture pollutants but fail to inactivate microbial agents. This project develops an innovative microwave-responsive catalyst integrated into HVAC filters to inactivate viruses and bacteria. The catalyst generates high-temperature “hot spots” and reactive species under microwave irradiation, enhancing pathogen removal. Preliminary results demonstrate 80% removal of bacteriophage MS2 using coated surgical mask filters. This technology has applications in hospitals, commercial buildings, and transportation systems, offering a novel, sustainable approach for airborne pathogen disinfection and improved air quality management.
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