“Detecting Virus Contamination in Cinemas and Subways” … Shilla University Selected for ‘Carbon Fusion-Composite Material Parts Demonstration Project’

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The research team from the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of New Materials Engineering at Silla University announced on the 5th that they have been finally selected for the ‘2021 Carbon Convergence Material Component Demonstration Project’ supported by the Korea Carbon Industry Promotion Agency and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

This project is a new task aimed at creating markets and spreading technology for six major carbon materials based on carbon neutrality and the carbon economy. The Silla University research team was selected for the industry-academia-research technology demand survey sector.

The research team, consisting of Professors Bae Sang-dae and Jeon Ki-wan from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Professor Shim Young-seok from the Department of New Materials Engineering, and Dr. Jeong Jae-yong from the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation Business Support Team, will receive 460 million KRW in project funding over one and a half years to conduct research supporting the demonstration of carbon convergence material components focused on user-centered product commercialization.

The research team will collaborate with companies such as Himpel, Carbon Solution, and Unison to demonstrate activated carbon filters with enhanced antibacterial and antiviral functions applicable to filters, as well as ventilation and quarantine air purification ventilation systems in multi-use facilities.

The main research targets are spaces where many people gather, such as movie theaters, performance halls, subways, and large supermarkets.

Since these are places with crowds, the air is easily polluted, and indoor air is contaminated through various routes including bacteria and viruses from breathing, coughing, sneezing, and dust from clothes and shoes. The role of ventilation and air purifier systems is therefore very important.

Air purifiers function by adsorbing and removing harmful gases using activated carbon filters.

The Silla University research team plans to develop air purifiers that reduce the risk of indoor air transmission of viruses like COVID-19 through the synthesis and mass production of functionalized activated carbon.

Professor Bae Sang-dae said, “We will mass-produce activated carbon with enhanced antibacterial and antiviral functions to reduce indoor air pollution and create safe and clean indoor spaces.”