Development of Nano-Sized Copper-Deposited Antimicrobial Air Filters Using a Mixed Melt-Blown Process

Air purification devices, such as air purifiers, provide fresh air by filtering out airborne pollutants, dust, and other harmful substances using various filter systems. While air filters are generally effective in filtering pollutants such as dust, they encounter a challenge when filtering harmful microorganisms such as mites, bacteria, mold, and viruses. These microorganisms, which are present in public transport and public indoor spaces, tend to proliferate on the surface of the filter media, eventually reintroducing themselves into the air or causing unpleasant odors. To address this issue, herein, copper particles were prepared as one masterbatch and deposited on polypropylene (PP) pellets through plasma vacuum deposition to effectively filter dust and microorganisms and prevent their growth on the surface of the filter media. After adding 3-10 wt.% of the masterbatch to conventional PP pellets to fabricate a filter media, the distribution of copper on the surface of the filter media was observed through a scanning electron microscope. To verify the safety and effectiveness of the antimicrobial material, the filter media containing antimicrobial particles was tested using Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus through a filter emission test.