1. Experimental testing of air filter efficiency against the SARS-CoV-2 virus: The role of droplet and airborne transmission
- Author
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Cesare Saccani, Alessandro Guzzini, Caterina Vocale, Davide Gori, Marco Pellegrini, Maria Pia Fantini, Alessandra Primavera, Saccani C., Guzzini A., Vocale C., Gori D., Pellegrini M., Fantini M.P., and Primavera A.
- Subjects
Environmental Engineering ,Coronavirus disease 2019 ,viruses ,fungi ,Geography, Planning and Development ,COVID-19 ,Experimental testing ,Air filters ,Building and Construction ,Article ,SARS Coronavirus ,Heating ventilation and air conditioning systems ,Air filter ,Heating ventilation and air conditioning system ,Civil and Structural Engineering - Abstract
Verifying the capacity of different types of air filters to stop the propagation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has become a strategic element to contain viral spreading in enclosed spaces. This paper shows the results of experimental tests about the capacity of different commercial filter grades to stop SARS-CoV-2 propagation using inactivated virions. In the first test, the obtained results showed that the F8 filter blocks SARS-CoV-2 propagation if it encounters a flow devoid of liquid phase, i.e., a biphasic flow that can wet the filtering material. On the contrary, as shown in the second test, the SARS-CoV-2 virus propagates through the F8 filter if the droplet content in the air flow is enough to wet it. In these operational conditions, i.e., when the filter is wet by a flow with a high droplet content, the absolute H14 filter was also shown to fail to stop the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Lastly, in the third test, the viral load was shown to be stopped when the pathway of the infected droplet is blocked.
- Published
- 2022