Filter media comprising water-repellent additives having minimal or no fluorine atoms are generally provided. In some embodiments, the water-repellent additives comprise one or more water-repellent functional groups. The water-repellent functional groups may comprise a carbon chain including three or more carbon atoms. In some embodiments, some or all of the water-repellent functional group(s) are bonded to a silicon atom and/or a metal atom. It is also possible for some or all of the water-repellent functional group(s) to form side chain(s) attached to a polymer backbone.

A glass fiber filter element for visible light photocatalysis and air purification and a method for preparing the same. The glass fiber filter element includes 4 to 7 wt % of nanoparticles including at least one selected from zinc oxide, graphene oxide, titanium oxide, and reduced graphene oxide, 2 to 7 wt % of silver nanowires, 3 to 12 wt % of an adhesive system, and 78 to 91 wt % of a glass fiber mat, based on the total weight of the glass fiber filter element. The glass fiber mat is made of at least two glass fibers with different diameters, and the diameters are in a range of 0.15 to 3.5 μm. The nanoparticles have a particle size from 1 to 200 nm, and the silver nanowires have a diameter of 15 to 50 nm.

A dual layer filter material for separating fluid or particulates from flowing air streams that is comprised of connected layers of nonwoven batting with one layer having a convoluted surface.

The present invention relates to a filter medium being at least formed of a pre-filter substrate laminated with a fine-filter substrate by means of a third binder, wherein the pre-filter substrate comprises synthetic fibers and a first binder, the pre-filter substrate working as a combined surface and depth filter, and the fine-filter substrate comprises at least a second binder and one of synthetic fibers and inorganic fibers.

Systems and methods are provided for continuously manufacturing fibrous materials and products, such as filters. A system comprises a conveyor for advancing a substrate comprising fibrous materials from an upstream end to a downstream end, and a feeder for feeding groups of nanofibers into a fluid medium. A fiberization device is coupled to the feeder and configured to convert the groups of nanofibers into individual nanoparticles. A dispersion device coupled to the fiberization device disperses the nanoparticles into the substrate to form a fibrous material. This distributes the nanoparticles more uniformly throughout the fibrous material. In addition, the system continuously manufactures the material to form a product with improved quality, yield and reduced cost and time.

Filter media and filters are provided that include at least two layers and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed in depth within at least one of the layers. A gas filter comprises a first layer of fibers, a second layer of fibers bonded to the first layer and a plurality of nanoparticles incorporated into the first layer. The nanoparticles increase the overall surface area within the filter, 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. In addition, the filters disclosed herein are capable of withstanding rigorous conditioning, which allows the filter to achieve the same level of filtration performance throughout the lifetime of the filter. Systems, devices and methods are also provided for manufacturing such filters.

Systems, devices and methods are provided for producing a product comprising fibrous material, such as a filter. A system for manufacturing a product comprises a first device for isolating individual nanoparticles within a gaseous medium and a second device for combining the individual nanoparticles with fibers to form a product containing the fibers and the nanoparticles. This distributes the nanoparticles more uniformly throughout the product and in depth into the internal structure of the product. The nanoparticles increase the overall surface area within the filter media, which increases its filtration efficiency and allows for the capture of submicron contaminants without significantly compromising other factors, such as pressure drop through the filter. In addition, the filters produced with the systems and methods described herein are capable of withstanding rigorous conditioning, which allows a filter to achieve the same level of filtration performance throughout the lifetime of the filter.

Systems, devices and methods are provided for separating and/or isolating individual nanoparticles from groups or clusters of nanofibers within a gaseous medium. The system comprises a housing configured to contain the groups of nanofibers, and a pump coupled to the housing. The system further includes one or more passages coupled to the pump and a gaseous medium within the passages. The pump is configured to propel the nanofibers through, or with, the gaseous medium against one or more surface(s) within the passages at a sufficient velocity and/or momentum to open up or separate, the groups of nanofibers into individual nanoparticles. Isolating individual nanoparticles in a gaseous medium and then dispersing them into a substrate or a fluid stream to form a product allows the nanoparticles to be distributed more uniformly and “in depth” throughout the product.

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 high linear density fibers and nanoparticles dispersed throughout at least a portion of the filter media. A filter includes a filter media comprising a substrate of fibers having a linear density of greater than about 3 denier, and nanoparticles disposed within the substrate. The larger linear density fibers provide more open space or pores within the filter media, allowing for a greater density of nanoparticles to be dispersed therein. This improves the overall efficiency of the filter. The three-dimensional distribution of nanoparticles within the filter also provides resistance against complete blockage of a particular portion of the filter, thereby reducing the overall pressure drop across the filter.

A method of inactivating a virus that includes the step of contacting a virus with an antiviral composition comprising a hybrid antiviral metal-associated amyloid fibril comprising metal nanoparticles on a surface of an amyloid fibril to contact a virus and an antiviral composition comprising metal nanoparticles on a surface of an amyloid fibril wherein the antiviral composition removes virus and bacterial contaminants in water or air to non-detectable levels when water or air comes into contact with the antiviral composition.