• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.286-290
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• 2014

Fungi are the known sources of irritation associated with atopic diseases (e.g., asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema). To quantitatively estimate their presence in the indoor environment of atopic dermatitis-inflicted child patient's houses (ADCPHs), the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters installed inside the air cleaners of three different ADCPHs were investigated for the presence of mold. The air cleaner HEPA filters obtained from the three different ADCPHs were coded as HEPA-A, -B, and -C, respectively, and tested for the presence of mold. The colony forming units (CFUs) corresponding to the HEPA-A, -B, and -C filters were estimated to be $6.51{\times}10^2{\pm}1.50{\times}10^2CFU/cm^2$, $8.72{\times}10^2{\pm}1.69{\times}10^2CFU/cm^2$, and $9.71{\times}10^2{\pm}1.35{\times}10^2CFU/cm^2$, respectively. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Trichoderma, and other fungal groups were detected in the 2,494 isolates. The distribution of these fungal groups differed among the three filters. Cladosporium was the major fungal group in filters HEPA-A and -C, whereas Penicillium was the major fungal group in the filter HEPA-B. Nine fungal species, including some of the known allergenic species, were identified in these isolates. Cladosporium cladosporioides was the most common mold among all the three filters. This is the first report on the presence of fungi in the air cleaner HEPA filters from ADCPHs in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.276-282
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze the structure of general filter using ultrafine filter (Profilter), dust collector filter, HEPA (HAPA-High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, deodorized filters, etc. of air purifiers and to study new types of purified filters that can improve ultrafine dust, harmful gases, and sterilization cleanup performance. The study was also conducted by adding photocatalyst filters to the existing step-by-step filtration filter types, which were proposed in the design three coupling structure filters of the left and right UV-LED installation frames and the photocatalyst coating honeycomb frame. Future research is needed on the effect of photocatalyst filters. This study was to investigate the application and structure of photocatalyst filters to air purifiers.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.30-36
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• 2001

This review begins with a brief expression of aerosol capture mechanism of fibrous filter(s) and performance of particulate removing respirators. The more complicated and detailed discussion is not included in this articles. Filtration efficiency and pressure drop are introduced as quality factor ( $q_{F}$) and the way in which filtration efficiency varies with particle size is discussed. Quality factors fro filters recently certified in USA were found to be very higher than those of filters made in Korea, China and USA filters certified with old certified standards. Electrically charged filters are widely used because they have high filtration efficiency and low pressure drop, but their efficiency decreases sharply at the condition occurring wet and oil mist. A discussion is given of respirator leakage through face seal and filter media with fit testing and total inward leakage testing. Since fit factor (FF) refers to the reciprocal of the fraction of the total air entering a respirator through face seal leakage , the degree of fitting performance for respirators is expected with FF. Because respirators made in Korea had generally lower FFs than respirators made in USA, it is necessary to develope respirators that fit properly for Koreans or establish regulations for fit testing.g.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.357-362
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• 2013

Monodispersed polystyrene latex spheres (PLS) and PS-MPS/silica composite nanospheres were used to test high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. Prior to filter tests, all nanospheres used in this work were characterized by measuring their average particle diameters and coefficients of variation (CV) for assessing them as artificial dusts. The average particle sizes of PLS and composite nanospheres could be well controlled in the range of 100~300 nm well by changing reaction temperature and the amount of a stabilizer during emulsion polymerization. The CV of all nanospheres were also in the range of 3~7%, lower than 15% that is the criterion for monodispersed particle distributions. Furthermore the results of HEPA filter tests show that all nanospheres used were quite proper as artificial dusts for testing air filters.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2004

Simultaneous removal technology of particulate/NOx/SOx/HCl using CuO/3Al$_2$O$_3$ㆍ2SiO$_2$catalyst impregnated ceramic candle filters is an advanced air pollution process and provides significantly to reduce hazardous gases emitted from coal-fired power plant. This process uses a high-temperature catalytic filter for integrating SOx and HCl reduction through injection an alkali sorbent (such as hydrated lime or sodium bicarbonate), NOx removal through ammonia injection and selective catalytic reduction (SCR), and particulate collection on the catalytic filter surface. The advantages of the process include : compact integration of the emission control technologies into a single component; easy handling of dry sorbent and by-product; and improved SCR catalytic life due to lowered SOx, HCl and particulate levels. CuO/3Al$_2$O$_3$ㆍ2SiO$_2$ catalyst impregnated ceramic candle filters showed a possibility of simultaneous treatment from results which have ascertained high removal efficiency at various combined gases conditions, and in pilot plant test for 3 months, NO conversion was showed 90% over.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2017

The removal of particulate matter ranging from $0.01{\mu}m{\sim}10{\mu}m$ can be performed by using membrane filters composed of fibers. Electrospinning techniques offer the production of very thin fibers with a uniform fiber diameter over conventional techniques including template synthesis, melt-blown, phase separation, etc. Air filtration will be improved with electrospun membranes due to the open pore structures, high porosity, and large surface area of the membranes. In the present study, filtration efficiency increased with pore size decrease and fiber density increase induced by carbon nanotube and the increased CA (cellulose acetate) concentration during electrospinning process.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.73-94
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• 2020

Particulate infectious sources, including infectious viruses, can float in the air, causing airborne infections. To prevent indoor airborne infection, dilution control by ventilation and indoor air cleaners are frequently used. In this study, the risk of airborne infection by the operation of these two techniques was evaluated. In case of dilution control by ventilation, a high efficiency air filter was embedded at the inlet of supply air. In this study, infectious source reduction devices such as indoor air cleaner include all kinds of mechanical-filters, UV-photo catalysts and air ionizers through which air flow is forced by fans. Two mathematical models for influenza virus were applied in an infant care room where infants and young children are active, and the risk reduction efficiency was compared. As a result, in the case of individually operating the ventilator or the infectious source reduction device, the airborne infection risk reduction efficiencies were 55.2~61.2% and 53.8~59.9%, respectively. When both facilities were operated, it was found that the risk of airborne infection was reduced about 72.2~76.8%. Therefore, simultaneous operation of ventilation equipment and infectious source reduction device is the most effective method for safe environment that minimizes the risk of airborne infection of respiratory infectious diseases. In the case of a space where sufficient ventilation operation is difficult, it was found that the operation of an infectious source reduction device is important to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This study is meaningful in that it provides an academic basis for strategies for preventing airborne infection of respiratory infectious diseases.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2016

When air discharged from a radioisotope production facility is contaminated with radiation, the public may be exposed to radiation. The objective of this study is to manage such radiation exposure. We measured the airborne radioactivity concentration at a 30 MeV cyclotron radioisotope production facility to assess whether the exhaust gas was contaminated. Additionally, we investigted the radioactive contamination of the air filter for efficient air purification and radiation safety control. To measure the airborne radiation concentration, specimens were collected weekly for 4 h after the beginning of the radioisotope production. Regarding the air purifier, five specimens were collected at different positions of each filter-pre-filter, high-efficiency particulate air filter, and charcoal filter-installed in the cyclotron production room. The concentrations of F-18, I-123, I-131, and Tl-201 generated in the radioiodine production room were $13.5Bq/m^3$, $27.0Bq/m^3$, $0.10Bq/m^3$, and $11.5Bq/m^3$, respectively; the concentrations of F-18, I-123, and I-131 produced in the radioisotope production room were $0.05Bq/m^3$, $16.1Bq/m^3$, and $0.45Bq/m^3$, correspondingly; and those of F-18, I-123, I-131, and Tl-201 generated in the accelerator room were $2.07Bq/m^3$, $53.0Bq/m^3$, $0.37Bq/m^3$, and $0.15Bq/m^3$, respectively. The maximum radiation concentration of I-123 generated in the radioiodine production room was 1,820 Bq/g, which can be disposed after 2 days. The maximum radiation concentration of Tl-202 generated in the radioisotope production room was 205 Bq/g, and this isotope must be stored for 53 days. The I-123 generated in the radioiodine production room had a maximum concentration of 1,530 Bq/g and must be stored for 2 days. The maximum radiation concentration of Na-22 generated in the radioisotope production room was 0.18 Bq/g and this isotope must be disposed after 827 days. To manage the exhaust, the efficiency of air purification must be enhanced by selecting an air purifier with a long life and determining the appropriate replacement time by examining the differential pressure through systematic measurements of the airborne radiation contamination level.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.398-402
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• 2020

This study was conducted to set up a proper replacement cycle of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters by observing the microbial populations in the air of the cultivation house of Pleurotus eryngii, before and after HEPA filter replacement at different periods. The density of bacteria and fungi in the air during each cultivation stage was measured using a sampler before the replacement of the HEPA filter. The results showed that airborne microorganisms had the highest density in the mushroom medium preparation room, with 169.7 CFU/㎥ of bacteria and 570 CFU/㎥ of fungi, and the removed old spaun had 126.3 CFU/㎥ of bacteria and 560 CFU/㎥ of fungi. The density of bacteria and fungi in the air at each cultivation stage before the replacement of the HEPA filter was 169.7 CFU/㎥ and 570 CFU/㎥, and 126.3 CFU/㎥ and 560 CFU/㎥, during the medium production and harvesting processes, respectively. After the replacement of the HEPA filter, the bacterial density was the lowest in the incubation room and the fungal density was the lowest in the cooling room. The microbial populations isolated at each period consisted of seven genera and seven species before the replacement, including Cladosporium sp., six genera and six species after 1 month of replacement, including Penicillium sp., 5 genera and 7 species after 3 months of replacement, including Mucor plumbeus, and 5 genera and 12 species, 5 genera and 10 species, and 5 genera and 10 species, 4, 5, and 6 months after the replacement, respectively, including Penicillium brevicompactum. During the period after replacement, the species were diversified and their number increased. The density of airborne microorganisms decreased drastically after the replacement of the HEPA filter. Its lowest value was recorded after 2 months of replacement, and it increased gradually afterwards, reaching a level similar to or higher than that of the pre-replacement period. Therefore, it was concluded that replacing the HEPA filter every 6 months is effective for reducing contamination.