Field Trials of A Novel Mop Fan for Healthier Buildings (MopAirPurifier)

In recent years, there has been a growing concern regarding the increase in epidemic diseases, which has prompted discussions about the potential long-term effects of indoor air pollution on public health, exasperated by HVAC systems. It is well-documented that conventional HVAC systems can contribute to the transmission of viruses, aerosols and organic contaminants in enclosed spaces.

This arises from the inherent air recirculation in these systems, and the fact that traditional filters are often ill-equipped to effectively remove certain pollutants, bacteria, and viruses from indoor air. Pollutants from vehicles have also a big impact on indoor air quality. Consequently, ensuring a safe indoor environment has become increasingly challenging, and these contaminants pose a significant risk to public health, particularly for individuals with chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

This issue is further compounded by demographic factors such as an aging population, a rising incidence of chronic diseases, and rapid urbanisation, all of which exacerbate the potential health consequences of indoor air pollution.

This project aims to carry out field trials on a new MopAirPurifier, a fan-based air processing system that incorporates advanced Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) technology and a salt-coated bio-aerogel filter. The MopAirPurifier is designed to sterilise/filter indoor air, thus creating a safer and healthier living environment for occupants. Its operation involves passing air through fibres coated with titanium dioxide (TiO2).

Under high-intensity UV light, the TiO2 coating generates oxygen and hydroxyl radicals that efficiently break down organic compounds and pollutants, resulting in cleaner indoor air. An innovative aspect of the MopAirPurifier system is the inclusion of a desiccant coated/bio-aerogel filter, which effectively extracts even small and ultrafine pollutant particles, in addition to deactivating viruses.

This multi-disciplinary project, which involves engineers and biosciences, aims to rigorously evaluate an advanced indoor air quality device in a real environment, followed by the manufacture of a pre-commercial product. This process is expected to lead to a diverse range of air cleaning systems, suitable for various applications, including residential and commercial buildings, as well as transportation systems.

The potential benefits of the MopAirPurifier are significant, as it offers an alternative, cost-effective, and energy-efficient solution for creating a safe and healthy indoor environment. By addressing the pressing issue of indoor air pollution and its impact on public health, this project contributes to the advancement of bioscience and built-environment technologies, aligning with the global effort to provide innovative solutions to critical challenges.