Development and Performance Evaluation of Ventilation Filters Using Organic Salt-Based Materials

This study investigated the performance and safety of a ventilation filter that incorporates an organic salt-based antimicrobial material, designed to suppress microbial growth in HVAC systems. The organic salt, which provides contact-type antiviral and antibacterial activity, was incorporated at a concentration of 200 ppm into a polypropylene melt-blown HEPA medium. This configuration achieved over 99.9% removal efficiency for 0.3 ㎛ particles while maintaining the pressure drop characteristics specified in KS B 6141. The antiviral activity, evaluated by ISO 18184 using human coronavirus 229E, demonstrated a 3.5 ㏒ reduction (≈99.9%) after 2 hours of contact. Antibacterial tests according to KS K 0693 against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed a reduction of ≥99.9% after 18 hours of incubation. Antifungal resistance assessed by ASTM G21-15(2021)e1 yielded Grade 1 after 4 weeks, indicating only trace fungal growth. A 33-day repeated-dose study on ICR mice revealed no significant toxicological findings in clinical observations, body weight, hematology, or histopathology. In a 3-month field test conducted in a hospital ward ventilation system, the organic salt filter demonstrated significantly lower surface and internal contamination compared to a conventional melt-blown filter. These results confirm that the developed organic salt-based filter can enhance hygienic stability and infection control in ventilation applications.