title: Development and evaluation of antimicrobial activated carbon fiber filters using Sophora flavescens nanoparticles.
abstract: Activated carbon fiber (ACF) filters have a wide range of applications, including air purification, dehumidification, and water purification, due to their large specific surface area, high adsorption capacity and rate, and specific surface reactivity. However, when airborne microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi adhere to the carbon substrate, ACF filters can become a source of microbial contamination, and their filter efficacy declines. Antimicrobial treatments are a promising means of preventing ACF bio-contamination. In this study, we demonstrate the use of Sophora flavescens in antimicrobial nanoparticles coated onto ACF filters. The particles were prepared using an aerosol process consisting of nebulization-thermal drying and particle deposition. The extract from S. flavescens is an effective, natural antimicrobial agent that exhibits antibacterial activity against various pathogens. The efficiency of Staphylococcus epidermidis inactivation increased with the concentration of S. flavescens nanoparticles in the ACF filter coating. The gas adsorption efficiency of the coated antimicrobial ACF filters was also evaluated using toluene. The toluene-removal capacity of the ACF filters remained unchanged while the antimicrobial activity was over 90% for some nanoparticle concentrations. Our results provide a scientific basis for controlling both bioaerosol and gaseous pollutants using antimicrobial ACF filters coated with S. flavescens nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environment, Health, and Welfare Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Mi
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: Center for Environment, Health, and Welfare Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Center for Environment, Health, and Welfare Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gi Byoung
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine, Korea University, Anam-dong 5-ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: SungChul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Center for Environment, Health, and Welfare Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: gnbae@kist.re.kr.
authors.forename: Gwi-Nam
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Center for Environment, Health, and Welfare Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea; Department of Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. Electronic address: jaehee@kist.re.kr.
authors.forename: Jae Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D029909:Sophora / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Activated carbon fiber (ACF) filter; Air filtration; Nanoparticles; Sophora flavescens