According to a first aspect, the present invention is embodied as a method of processing a filtered liquid with a microfluidic device. The method includes positioning a porous filtering medium with respect to the microfluidic device, so as to allow a flow path between the filtering medium and a channel of the microfluidic device. The method further includes introducing a liquid in the porous filtering medium for the liquid to advance along the filtering medium and be filtered by the medium. The method further includes applying compression to the filtering medium to extract a given volume of the filtered liquid from the filtering medium, where the extracted liquid volume reaches said channel via the flow path. The method further includes processing the extracted volume with the microfluidic device.

A system is provided for monitoring the condition of a filter incorporated into a vehicle or other apparatus in order to identify when the filter should be cleaned or replaced is provided. This system generally comprises a receiving device and a smart filter element. The smart filter element a filter media having a first side and a second side; a frame comprising a plurality of walls that surrounds at least a portion of the screen; and a sensor configured to gauge pressure and to communicate wirelessly with the receiving device. The sensor being located approximate to the second side of the filter media.

A system and method for laminating filter media can include applying an adhesive to a layer of the filter media and curing the adhesive. A multilayer filter assembly can include a first and a second layer laminated together using an inorganic adhesive.

Filter media and filters, such as air filters, face masks, gas turbine and compressor air intake filters, panel filters and the like, are provided that include nanoparticles dispersed throughout at least a portion of the filter media. A filter media comprises a substrate comprising fibers and nanoparticles disposed within the substrate. The nanoparticles have at least one dimension less than 1 micron, and the filter media has a MERV rating greater than about 10 and a pressure drop less than about 0.5 inches of water. The nanoparticles increase the overall surface area within the fiber substrate, which increases its filtration efficiency and allows for the capture of submicron contaminants without significantly compromising other factors, such as pressure drop (i.e., air flow) through the filter.

Filter media and filters, such as air filters, face masks, gas turbine and compressor air intake filters, panel filters and the like, are provided that include nanoparticles dispersed throughout at least a portion of the filter media. A filter media comprises a fiber substrate with a first surface and an opposing second surface. The filter media includes nanoparticles disposed within the fiber substrate at least between the first and second surfaces such that an area density of the nanoparticles decreases from the first surface towards the second surface. This density gradient formed by the nanoparticles through at least a portion of the substrate improves the performance characteristics of the filter. The nanoparticles increase the overall surface area within the fiber substrate, which may increase its filtration efficiency and allows for the capture of submicron contaminants without significantly compromising other factors, such as pressure drop or air flow through the filter.

Fibrous filter medium that includes a surface-loading filter layer comprising fine fibers having an average diameter of less than 1 micron; a depth loading filter layer; and a support layer; wherein the layers are configured and arranged for placement in a gas stream with the surface loading filter layer being the most upstream layer.

This disclosure describes filter media and mask filters and face mask systems including those filter media. In one aspect, the filter media includes a fibrous media including multi-component binder fibers, glass fibers, and microfibrillated cellulose fibers. In some aspects, the fibrous media further includes PET fibers. In another aspect, the filter media includes an electrostatically charged filter media, a fine fiber layer, and a scrim. In yet another aspect, the filter media includes two fine fiber layers, and two scrims. In additional aspects, the filter media includes bicomponent fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, and microfibrillated cellulose fibers. In a further aspect, the filter media includes a support layer, a continuous fine fiber layer, and an efficiency layer. Combinations and composites of the filter media are also contemplated.

An air filter device. The air filter device comprises: a filter medium having an inlet surface for taking in air, and a discharge surface for filtered air. The filter medium having a plurality of air passages for the air to flow therethrough. At least a portion of the inlet surface of the filter medium comprises a sulfonated polymer for killing at least 90% microbes in the air within 120 minutes of contact with the surface of the air passages. The sulfonated polymer is selected from the group of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones, sulfonated polyketones, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof. The sulfonated polymer has a degree of sulfonation of at least 10%.

An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.

Thermoplastic bicomponent binder fiber can be combined with other media, fibers and other filtration components to form a thermally bonded filtration media. The filtration media can be used in filter units, such as breather caps. Such filter units can be placed in the stream of a mobile fluid and can remove a particulate and/or fluid mist load from the mobile stream. The unique combination of media fiber, bicomponent binder fiber and other filtration additives and components provide a filtration media having unique properties in filtration applications.