Development and characterization of triclosan coated heat and moisture exchange filter for ventilation therapy

Abstract

An indigenous heat and moisture exchange filter has been developed using an open cell reticulated hygroscopic impregnated polyurethane foam and polypropylene nonwoven to maintain heat and moisture exchange and bacterial filtration efficiency respectively. Also, the spun bond polypropylene nonwoven is treated with an optimized concentration of biocide (triclosan-5gpl) mainly on the 1^st contact layer of ventilator gas using padding mangle in 2 dips/2 nips method for better antibacterial efficiency. Three different polypropylene made nonwoven materials [spunbond (SB), meltblown (MB) and needle-punched (NP)] are stacked in different layer arrangement and evaluated for their efficiency in filtering bacteria. The five- layered composite filter (SB-MB-NP-MB-SB biocide treated) with double layers of meltblown and spunbond treated with biocide, in addition to the needle-punched middle layer, shows a bacterial filtration of 99.9% along with excellent antimicrobial properties and acceptable pressure drop. The developed biocide-coated multilayer composite filter provides comfortable and ideal humidification to the users besides delivering excellent antimicrobial activity. This developed filter will be an alternative to existing commercial filters, without any compromise, and having all the inherent properties.