Performance Evaluation of Portable Indoor Air Cleaners: Particles and Organic Compounds Removal and Possible Byproduct Generation
DONG GAO, Elizabeth Lin, Sheng Liu, Krystal Godri Pollitt,
Yale University Abstract Number: 582
Working Group: Indoor Aerosols
AbstractThe rising concerns about indoor air quality have driven a growing interest in the use of portable indoor air cleaners for mitigating health risks associated with airborne contaminants, such as particulate matter, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs), and airborne viruses. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of four types of portable air cleaners, including a commercially available high-efficiency particulate air cleaner, an electronic air cleaner, and two lower-cost, do-it-yourself (DIY) alternatives built from box fans – one coupled with a MERV-13 filter and the other with activated carbon filters, to cover a wide range of applications and affordability. The focus was on assessing their efficiency in removing particles, VOCs, and SVOCs, as well as examining the generation of byproducts such as ozone. The experiments were conducted in a 3.5 m
3 Teflon chamber, spiked with wood smoke. The particle and ozone concentrations in the chamber were monitored continuously with an optical particle counter and a portable ozone monitor, respectively. Organic compounds were collected using passive sampling methods during different time intervals of operation and subsequently analyzed by thermal desorption gas chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry. The results showed all types of air cleaners excelled in particle removal, eliminating more than 95% of particles within 10 minutes of operation. The DIY activated carbon air cleaner demonstrated high efficiency in removing organic compounds, offering an affordable and efficient alternative for air purification needs. However, the electronic air cleaner with a charging system posed a risk of generating harmful oxidation byproducts, such as ozone or oxidized organic compounds, after 20 hours of operation. The findings provide valuable insights regarding the selection and implementation of effective air cleaning solutions to promote healthier indoor environments.