Infectious agent air treatment system, apparatus, and method

Abstract

An air treatment system, e.g., used in a PPE mask, contains media with an infectious agent attenuator that attenuates or inactivates infectious agents in air flowing through passages in a media, the attenuator composed of moisture-activated biocide, e.g., organic acid like citric acid, and a humectant, e.g., gelling humectant like sorbitol, which captures moisture from the air to maintain biocide activation. A surfactant, such as a rhamnolipid surfactant, which attracts and encapsulates infectious agents in the air can be included. The attenuator has a pH≤5, preferably ≤4, more preferably ≤3.5, is kept activated at or below the desired pH by humectant capturing moisture in the breath of a person wearing a mask with the media. A preferred biocide is composed of a solution containing about 88% water and 12% of a mixture that is at least 80% citric acid and no more than 20% sorbitol.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.