We are developing filtration solutions to 1) mitigate coronavirus spreading and 2) reduce PM2.5 pollutants.  The Particle Technology Laboratory (PTL) has developed many instruments and samplers to perform atmospheric and bioaerosol measurements, which helped to establish many standards, including the U.S. PM2.5 standard. Filtration by N95 respirators and procedural masks, and by cartridge and bag house filters, are the principal means to control the coronavirus spreading and the PM2.5 pollutants, respectively.

The Center for Filtration Research (CFR) at the University of Minnesota, collaborating with 20 leading international filtration companies, including respirator/masks companies 3M, Shigematsu (Japan), Cummins, Donaldson, Watyuan (China), was established to find filtration solutions to mitigate coronavirus aerosol, PM2.5 and other environmental pollutants. CFR investigators perform fundamental and applied research on air, gas and liquid filtration. 

1)  Mitigate coronavirus spreading: A good respirator/mask requires that the filter media has high filtration efficiency and low pressure drop (breathability).  Electret Media using charged fibers are shown to have these desirable qualities.  Some of our recent modeling results for the electret media will be presented.  Recent applied research includes identifying and evaluating good filtration media for making respirators/masks, and the decontamination of the used N95 respirators and procedural masks to extend their use. 

2)  Reduce PM2.5 pollutants: Due to the rapid economic development, PM2.5 is particularly severe in Asia, killing more than 4 million residents per year.  A disruptive innovation, namely, the Solar-Assisted Large-Scale Cleaning System (SALSCS), is developed to mitigate PM2.5 pollutants in urban air.  The second generation SALSCS is developed to reduce not only the PM2.5 but also CO2 in the atmosphere.  The third generation SALSCS is under development for deployment in Delhi, where the PM2.5 is reaching a critical level.  The design and evaluation of the SALSCS will be presented.