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WFI 2024 Abstracts

The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of our buildings and homes plays a critical role in our health and well-being, resulting in ongoing research focused on creating comfortable and health-optimized indoor spaces. This research highlights the evolving understanding of IEQ and its connection to human health, emphasizing the need for comprehensive standards that assess and enhance indoor environments. Many current IAQ sensors face challenges related to accuracy, calibration, and real-time responsiveness, making it difficult to reliably assess their direct impact on occupant health. This demonstrates the need to further explore the integration of health-based metrics to derive meaningful insights. A recent ASHRAE strategic plan calls for the development of IEQ metrics that could integrate health-based measures, such as biomarkers. Biomarkers—biological indicators that provide objective data on physiological changes—are increasingly recognized for their potential to assess the impact of indoor pollutants on human health. This paper explores various types of biomarkers, including vital signs, respiratory markers, and blood and urinary indicators, to measure short- and long-term exposures to indoor pollutants. Wearable sensors and real-time environmental monitoring technologies also offer promising opportunities for continuous IEQ assessment, providing real-time insights into how indoor environments can affect health. Additionally, integrating subjective data from occupant surveys with objective biomarker data can offer a more holistic approach to understanding IEQ’s impact on perceived well-being. However, challenges such as standardization, validation, and ethical considerations related to data privacy must be addressed. This paper advocates for multidisciplinary collaboration among researchers, policymakers, architects, and engineers to advance IEQ metrics and create healthier indoor environments. This effort should be pursued with privacy, data security, and public trust kept at the forefront of decision-making. Continued research in this field will contribute to improved public health outcomes and enhance the quality of indoor spaces for future generations.

Bridging Indoor Air Quality and Indoor Environmental Quality Metrics with Health Outcome Metrics

Dr. John McKeon

CEO
Indoor Air Innovation & Research (iAIR) Group, US

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The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) in public health, highlighting the crucial role of filtration technologies in maintaining healthy indoor environments. As the airborne transmission of pathogens became a primary concern, advanced filtration systems, particularly High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and chemical filters, gained prominence for their effectiveness in removing ultrafine particles, biological contaminants, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This post-pandemic perspective provides detailed information on the capabilities of these filtration systems and their broader implications for indoor health management. Filtration innovations target pathogen removal and address long-term IAQ challenges, such as reducing allergens, chemical pollutants, and indoor particulate matter (Pm1, PM2.5, PM10). These systems increasingly have smart sensors and AI-driven monitoring to ensure real-time filtration efficiency and energy optimization, supporting sustainable building operations. Furthermore, the pandemic has influenced the evolution of IAQ standards, with governing bodies calling for enhanced filtration and ventilation protocols in schools, offices, hospitals, and public spaces. By emphasizing health-driven building design focusing on the well-being of human occupants, filtration technologies have become central to reducing indoor pollution and mitigating the risks of airborne diseases. This presentation addresses how the pandemic has widened the air quality lens beyond particle capture to encompass bioaerosol filtration and ventilation technologies to sustainably provide clean and fresh air. The presentation also addresses shaping future urban and architectural frameworks, highlighting the role of filtration technologies as a common denominator for air quality governance strategies and public health and well-being.

The importance of filtration technologies in governing healthy IAQ: a post-pandemic perspective

Dr. Iyad Al-Attar

Strategic Director
World Filtration Institute (WFI), CA

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The health impacts of PM2.5 including particles from wildfire smoke, indoor combustion, and other sources of PM2.5 will be reviewed including a recent report from the National Academies of Science, recently revised standards and practical approaches to reduce exposure. The harm from PM2.5 as well as key chemical contaminants will be reviewed with a path to reducing ventilation and improving IAQ while saving energy using the IAQP procedure will be described. Filtration requirements of various ASHRAE standards including ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, ASHRAE 62.2 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings, and ASHRAE 241 Control of Infectious Aerosols will be compared. Additional ASHRAE standards including ASHRAE 90.2 High-Performance Energy Design of Residential Buildings, and others will be reviewed for filtration requirements. A special emphasis will be placed on ASHRAE 241 Control of Infectious Aerosols and how equivalent clean airflow per person for infection risk mitigation can be calculated or measured directly (using Normative Appendix C). Data showing the opportunity for energy savings and decarbonization in commercial buildings while providing enhanced control of infectious aerosols will be presented.

Enhancing Health by Filtration of PM2.5 & Infectious Aerosols

Dr. Mark Cree Jackson

IEQ Subject Matter Expert
Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc., US

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The recent COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing air pollution and forest fire situations in cities like New Delhi, and states like California necessitate the need for continuous development of barrier materials. While facepiece respirators like N95 and R95 are golden standards for protection against toxic aerosol and droplets, there are opportunities for filters that could provide improved filtration and comfort for protection against particles that range between 0.1 to 0.3 microns. We present in this study a new face mask design that lends itself to the use of different core filters while providing next to skin comfort. Results using activated carbon, and wetlaid glass fiber filter as filter inserts in a comfortable face mask design will be presented. We characterize the result in terms of percentage penetration as it is more relevant to objectively quantifying the barrier protection capability of face masks. We are advocating such face masks as a necessary PPE in “One Health,” programs.

Novel Filters for Personnel Protection

Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar

Professor
Texas Tech University, US

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This new hydrocharging system allows to manufacture highest-class electret filter media with increased filter-performance at lowest delta p. The pressure loss in typical face-mask media can be reduced to less than a quarter compared to conventionally charged media. Filtration efficiencies of more than 99.9% are easily achieved in typical filter media of 35g/m² at only 35Pa. The new process excels as a future-proof technology due to its considerably lower water and energy consumption compared to other hydro-charging concepts. It allows an additional drying process to be dispensed for many applications, which has a huge impact on energy consumption. Whereas conventional charging processes charge the finished nonwoven material, the new concept is based on the all-round charging of each filament. Thus, the effective charged surface area is about 10 times greater compared to surface-charged media. Through controlled atomization, a charge is evenly transferred to the fibers from the water spray. A special additive is used to permanently bond the charge to the surface of each fiber. The result: filter media with a uniformly stable charge over the entire cross-section. The new hydrocharging system is an industrially manufactured solution that can be seamlessly integrated into the production process. Easy to install, easy to set and easy to maintain by an integrated feature for quick changing. The new system is also easily retrofitted to existing systems as a plug & produce component.

Hydrocharging Equipment for Economical Production of Single-Ply Meltblown Filter Media

Dr. Ingo Mählmann

Director Sales & Marketing Nonwoven, Oerlikon Neumag, DE

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The need for protein is increasing due to population growth and climate change. Microorganisms represent one of the most promising new sources. But protein production involves obtaining a concentrated extract before atomization or precipitation. However, after a cell lysis stage leading to complex extracts, it is necessary to purify the proteins before concentrating them. Depending on the micro-organism, the co-extracted molecules may be polysaccharides or pigments such as chlorophyll. When microalgae are lysed, co-extracted pigments in complex form a layer on the membrane surface, totally altering selectivity and reducing flux. Membranes with a molecular weight cut-off ranging from 10 kDa to 500 kDa showed identical retention rates. A microfiltration step eliminates some of these complexes, but a precipitation step proves more effective, increasing flux by a factor of two. Tests carried out with a 10 kDa membrane showed that it was then possible to obtain two fractions, one enriched with phycocyanin and the other with white proteins. These tests were carried out in a stirred cell, and performance should be improved with tangential filtration membranes. In the case of bacteria, lysis leads to co-extraction of polymers such as heteropolysaccharides and DNA. Permeate fluxes obtained are much higher than with microalgae, but analytical results show that these membranes lead to the concentration of proteins and DNA. The results confirm that membrane processes are particularly well suited to the concentration of proteins, as in the case of plants, but that for their purification, control of hydrodynamic conditions is essential.

Advances in Unicellular Protein Purification by Novel Membrane

Dr. Pierre-Yves Pontalier

WFC14 Chair, Professor at the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, FR

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From a supply-chain perspective, in 2020, the pandemic has challenged the availability of nonwoven materials that are employed for end-uses related to the COVID-19 response. Typical N95 respirators and surgical masks are a multi-layer structure of two or more spunbond layers that provide mask shape and protect the inner meltblown filtration layer. The meltblown layer is electrostatically charged to allow for high efficiency and acceptable pressure drops. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, NWI was able to modify microfibrillation technology to form a new class of facemask filter medium with an ultra-low pressure drop. This new structure does not require electrostatic corona charging . There are no spunbond filters, as filtration media with similar properties and meltblown structures do not provide the same pressure drops. The material can be fine-tuned to produce facemask media targeting N95, N99, and N100 masks, as well as MERV 13 to 16 and HEPA filters. NWI’s new approach uses a spunbond, hydroentangled nonwoven made from a PLA/PP bicomponent fiber that can be fibrillated by the waterjets during the process. The process uses novel jet strips that form a “quilted” structure. The degree of fibrillation can be controlled; partial fibrillation will result in a mix of fibers ~ (1-2 μm) and coarse fibers (15-25 μm), while full fibrillation results in a structure with fibers in the range of 1-2 μm. Of note is that the process produces as much as 450 kg/m/hr. per beam. This is significantly higher that spunbond PP and far greater that the throughput on a meltblown system offering potentially lower costs and higher capacity.

Creating a More Sustainable, High-Efficiency Spunbond Filter Media

Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhim

Executive Director and Distinguished Professor, NC State Univ., US

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Whether in our homes, workplaces, or vehicles, the demand for safe and healthy indoor environments is growing around the world. In this situation, air filtration is essential for protecting people from airborne contaminants such as particles, microorganisms, and gases. With the global sustainability transition taking hold and looking to the future, there is a clear trend toward filters and HVAC systems that not only effectively clean the air but also lower their overall carbon footprint. The integration of sustainability into our innovation strategy is a commitment to responsibility, shaping the way we develop and manufacture the upcoming generation of filter media. During the presentation, two main approaches will be discussed through recent product development examples. First, Core Sustainability concentrates on selecting raw materials (fibers, binders, chemicals) and processing them in a more sustainable way. PFAS-Free solutions for HVAC filtration focus today’s expectations. Second, Functional Sustainability concentrates on developing filtration solutions with improved performances to reduce the environmental impact of the filtration step for the end customers. Longer filter lifetime and lower pressure drop represent, at this stage, the most promising routes. From cradle to grave the presentation will illustrate how air filtration materials are becoming a strong ally in the quest for a more sustainable future. Keywords: Filtration Media, Innovation, Sustainability, Indoor Air

Innovative HVAC Filtration Media for a More Sustainable Future

Dr. Cedric Vallet

Head of Business Development, Ahlstrom, FR

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Particulate matter pollution poses a significant health risk to individuals, contributing to respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and other health problems. In response to this growing concern, nanofibrous air filters have gained considerable attention due to their high surface-to-volume ratio. This unique property increases the contact area between fine particles and nanofibers, leading to enhanced filtration efficiency. However, the widespread application of nanofibrous air filters is often hindered by two key limitations: limited air permeability, caused by the dense filter media, and relatively poor durability, including weaknesses in mechanical strength, dust-holding capacity, and temperature resistance etc. To address these challenges and comprehensively improve the performance of nanofibrous filters, our strategy focuses on developing advanced fibrous air filters through innovative structural designs. By employing electrospinning technology, we can precisely control the filter’s structure from the macro-scale down to the nano-/molecular-scale. This allows for a synergistic enhancement of both filtration efficiency and durability. Several examples will be provided in this presentation to illustrate the methods used to fabricate these novel micro-nano fibrous air filters. In brief, by strategically selecting polymers and designing the fiber and composite layer structure, (1) the multilevel structured filter is constructed to optimize the air flow path and filtration efficiency; (2) the fiber surface structure is modified to achieve cleanability and reusability of air filter; (3) the intermolecular structure of fibers is regulated to improve durability of filtering materials.

Nanofiber Structure Innovation at Different Scales for Improved Air Filter Performance

Dr. Qijun Zhang

Distinguished Research Associate, Dr. Yu-Ming Zheng, Deputy Director, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CN

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On average, Respiratory Protection Equipment (RPE) producers spend 3-5 years developing their next generation products. They report the process being complex, requiring a lot of time spent on internal trials and validations. The filter design is part of the challenge in coming up with better performing, more comfortable solutions. And while the market points toward smaller filters and higher efficiencies, the technologies available to achieve such goals are becoming less and less viable. In fact, we have reached an inflection point in new filter designs where most filter areas are decreasing by 50% or more compared to historic designs. To add to that, PFAS-containing filters are increasingly becoming the focus of RPE producers who are seeking solutions without these “forever chemicals”. New technologies are needed to support the RPE products of the future. Our customers are saying that they are excited about the enhanced performance that NanoWave® ESA brings vs. current filter constructions. They share that the ease of producing filters with our new product line will facilitate the designing phase of the filter, create less dependance on engineers and operators’ experiences, while also reducing production cost. Our customers are also seeing an advantage in being some of the first ones to go to market with a zero-added PFAS solution that could also allow them to gain further market shares, while meeting their own customers’ requests to move away from PFAS-based chemistries. It is crucial that we continue to bring answers to optimize and streamline filter designs as demands for zero-added PFAS, smaller, better performing, longer lasting filters continue to grow.

A Novel and Universal Product Line for All Respiratory Protection Filter Needs

Ms. Samia Moore

Global Market Manager,, H&V, US

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Single-use beverages (teabags, Keurig coffee pods, Nespresso pods, and a host of other European coffee pods) have become an ubiquitous part of society. Key enabling technology in these are unique filter medias, designed for the most effective fluid to active ingredient contact and flavor extraction, while effecting fluid filtration. Wetlaid nonwovens as well as dry-formed synthetic media are effectively used in these applications. The discussion would provide an overview of various media technologies used in these applications, and how manufacturers are preparing for making them more sustainable for end-use customer. Sustainability is becoming very relevant for these, as these end products contribute to several hundreds of thousands of MT of annual landfill waste every year. Moreover, concerns about microplastics in beverages are increasing.

Sustainability Advances in Single-Use Beverage Filtration Materials and Applications

Dr. Vishal Bansal

CTO and VP R&D and Sustainability, Glatfelter, US

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Translating science to practice is not simple. In the world of water, what we know about human exposure levels in the water supply and filtration solutions have led to a multitude of applications and operational practices globally. This session will cover the need to create above code standards like the WELL Building Standard that push companies to lead by example in applying water strategies and technologies to create healthy safe drinking water. With over 5 billion square feet globally, the WELL Building Standard is the largest and most comprehensive standard on workplace well-being globally. WELL has 10 core concepts, 100 features, and 500 strategies. One of the concepts of WELL is Water which is centered around water quality, verified by third-party testing and maintained by on-going monitoring and adequate assessment and treatment. Come be inspired about companies, schools, and government organizations who have invested in health by achieving WELL and improving the physical and mental health of their employees through water.

Investing in Health: The WELL Building Standard

Dr. Whitney Gray

Senior Vice President Research at International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)

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Standard filter cloths with small pore sizes lead to reduced flow rates and significant pressure loss in the production process. The cloth structure of a three-dimensional weave increases the number of pores and thus the open surface over the same area. For a given pore size, the flow rate is more than doubled compared to conventional Dutch Weaves. The pore size within a batch can be calibrated from 5 µm to 40 µm. Conventional woven wire filter cloths can cause turbulences. Turbulences with the 3D-filter cloth are avoided. Its pore size can be calculated precisely in advance and adapted to the respective requirements. Reliable and objective evaluation methods were developed and experimentally validated by glass bead tests and air flow-through measurements. The predictable pore sizes of the 3D-Mesh can achieve extremely high cut-points and dimensional stability. The independent institute Whitehouse Scientific has tested and confirmed these properties. As an additional quality assurance measure, the filter cloth is bubble point tested. The depth structure of the 3D woven wire filter cloth facilitates high separation efficiency without rapid blinding leading to longer filtration processes between cleaning intervals and longer service life for greater production reliability. The 3D metal filter cloth is woven from standard diameter wires making it possible to weave special materials even in the small pore size range. Thus, filter cloth with pore sizes below 40 µm can be manufactured in corrosion- and temperature-resistant alloys. The properties of the 3D filter mesh make it particularly suitable for high end water treatment.

Mission Zero – Disruptive & Sustainable Water Filtration Media

Mr. Friedrich Edelmeier

Vice President, HAVER & BOECKER, DE

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Access to fresh, clean water for all is a universal problem. Climate change, pollution and population growth are factors that will further exacerbate this issue in years to come, placing stress on current supplies. Novel, sustainable technologies are required now more than ever to provide the solution, in a way that is robust, economical and scalable. At Molymem, we are developing the next generation of membranes, based on two-dimensional molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) to form highly efficient water filtration membranes. Our membranes aim to combine the best features of commercially available membranes such as the small pore size and separation efficiency of polymeric membranes and the robustness and lifetime of ceramic membranes. High water permeation and contaminant rejection positions these membranes as lower energy alternatives to traditional nanofiltration membranes, with the added benefit of specific functionality, tailored rejection and hence tuneable membrane technology. In this talk, building on our scale-up and growth over the past year, we will show the effectiveness of our hybrid ceramic NF membranes for the removal of NOM and nutrients from a range of UK ground and river waters and benchmark their performance against state-of-the-art commercial polymer NF membranes, typically used by the water industry. NOM and nutrient removal (nitrates, phosphates) require complex and expensive physical and chemical treatment trains. We believe our membrane technology could reduce or eliminate the use of coagulation/chemical usage resulting in lower OPEX and reduced CO2 asset footprints overtime. Molymem have targeted the removal of these nanoscale compounds, to protect public health whilst maintaining a practical and economical solution for water suppliers through the use of our disruptive membrane technology.

Next-generation, Sustainable Nanofiltration Membranes for Natural Organic Matter (NOM) and Nutrient Removal from Drinking Water

Dr. Paul Wiper

CTO, Molymem, UK

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Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a critical aspect of creating healthy buildings, especially with the growing recognition of air pollution as the leading environmental threat to human health. The World Health Organization's (WHO) updated Air Quality Guidelines, published in September 2021, have introduced stricter limits on key pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Additionally, for the first time, safe limits for ozone have been established. The new EN ISO 10121-3:2022 standard simplifies the selection of molecular filters, making it as straightforward as choosing particle filters. Furthermore, innovative 2-in-1 combination filters enable the filtration of both particles and gases in a single stage, providing a practical solution for maintaining indoor air quality. The updated EN 16798-3 standard further supports this process, allowing users to easily determine the necessary filtration levels based on the latest WHO guidelines. It aligns particle filtration requirements with EN ISO 16890 and gas filtration with EN ISO 10121-3. By utilizing energy-efficient filters with high filtration efficiency, building managers can not only enhance IAQ but also reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, and minimize their CO2 footprint. This presentation will explore the impact of the new EN 16798-3 standard on filtration requirements, offering insights into achieving optimal air quality while meeting the latest regulatory demands.

New EN 16798-3 and its impact on particle and molecular filtration requirements

Mr. Tobias Zimmer

Vice President, Camfil, DE

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Sustainability in air filtration is gaining more and more importance, but there is still little standardization on how to assess this topic. The carbon foot print of an air filter is on one hand defined by its raw material, production and transportation. But this portion only makes about 10% of the overall carbon foot print of filtration. Carbon foot print is important to protect our climate, but climate action is only one out of the 17 sustainability goals of the united nations. There are other important goals like good health and well-being, quality education or sustainable cities and communities, just to name some. The aim of air filtration is in very close alliance with most of these goals, hence, air filters by nature are sustainable with their handprint. It is a classical engineering task to maximize the ratio of handprint to footprint. To help engineers to assess this task in a standardised way and to hand them the right tools, CEN and ISO are working on new standards to achieve this goal. In Europe, the European Standardization Organisation (CEN) with its working group (WG) 7 as part of the technical committee (TC) 195 is working on standards to define the content of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD). In parallel, the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) is working in WG12 within the technical committee (TC) 142 on standards to assess the life cycle cost, energy consumption and the life cycle assessment of air filters.

Future ISO standards on sustainable air filtration

Dr. Thomas Caesar

Vice President, Freudenberg Filtration Technologies, DE

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With the growing emphasis on the elimination of harmful substances such as Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and latex, which pose significant health and environmental risks, regulatory advances are shaping the water and wastewater industry. Water reuse is is seeing increased momentum in the U.S and gaining global traction, particularly in regions facing drought, population growth, or heightened vulnerability to climate change. Alongside the water industry, the BPA potential ban in the manufacture industry impacts food contact, coatings and printing inks and adhesives industries. This movement is crucial in addressing water scarcity while promoting sustainable management practices. Compliance with regulatory frameworks, such as the REACH Regulation (EC) and NSF/ANSI Certification, is critical for ensuring the safety and environmental sustainability of water and wastewater systems. REACH mandates the registration, evaluation, and authorization of chemicals in the European Union, aiming to mitigate risks from hazardous substances. Meanwhile, NSF/ANSI focuses on ensuring that components in drinking water systems do not leach harmful contaminants, thereby safeguarding public health. By adhering to evolving regulations and incorporating water reuse strategies, the water and food processing industry can promote safer, more sustainable operations while contributing to long-term environmental conservation efforts.

Emerging Global Regulatory Trends in Water Filtration

Sreenath Kariveti

Global Segment Manager, Mann+Hummel Water and Fluid Solutions, DE

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In the current and future trends in water security, regulatory trends and innovation in the filtration industry there needs to be closely integrated. The reality of water scarcity is finally starting to awaken the world as climate change is directly affecting the worldwide population. Water scarcity, in a broad sense, is not only the availability of clean potable water but also movement of fresh water into saline water from ice caps and glaciers melting into the sea, fresh water pollution, and the distribution of non-saline water as some areas get inundated with rain that mostly runs off eventually into the sea. It is estimated that 50% of the worldwide population will be affected by water scarcity. There are many directions innovation in the filtration industry is addressing this problem such as sea and brackish water desalination via Reverse Osmosis, Forward Osmosis the Membrane Distillation that can make acceptable water according to the regulatory agencies around the world. Unfortunately there it ends up with a concentrated brine that can increase the salinity of sea water or has to be disposed of safely. Innovative filtration research to get as close as possible to Zero Liquid Disposal and benefitable use of the dry discharge is in process. The limits of environmental disposal are not clearly defined by the regulatory process. The major focus of this presentation is the treatment and reuse of industrial waste water as beneficial fresh water. This is a broader definition of potable water as it is not for human of animal consumption but for application in returning it to industrial purposes or agriculture or gray water, etc. In the most part, this is not controlled by regulatory agencies. Will it ever be under the regulatory authority? An example is the Orange County Water Authority is currently taking municipal waste water and treating it for injection into the ground water to “impede the inflow of sea water” but in reality, is being pumped out for potable water use so indirectly going from potty to pot. My focus or this presentation is taking a waste water from a “point of creation” to a degree of cleanliness, typically as clean as city water, for reuse in the industrial setting. While this may seem like a small step in correcting water scarcity and is on a single unit setting but when taken in thousands of applications can be significant. An example, is one automotive assembly plant can reduce their purchase of city water over 100,000,000 gallons of water per year and this in the overall industrial setting is a small user. Since it is only for internal use, it is not currently regulated.

The impact of water scarcity, regulatory trends and innovation on the filtration industry

Mr. Scott Yaege

President/CEO
Filtration and Separation Technology International, Inc.

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This discussion examines how Artificial Intelligence enhances Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management through real-time monitoring, personalized solutions, and predictive maintenance. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management by delivering real-time, personalized, and efficient solutions. AI-powered sensors and IoT devices continuously monitor air quality, detecting pollutants, harmful particles, and other contaminants, enabling rapid response to indoor environmental changes. By analyzing consumer usage patterns, weather data, and indoor conditions, AI-driven systems optimize IAQ device operation to provide tailored, energy-efficient solutions that help maintain comfort and health. AI’s predictive maintenance capabilities reduce downtime and extend device life by proactively addressing potential issues. As AI evolves, it allows IAQ management to become more intelligent and responsive, creating healthier and more comfortable indoor environments for consumers.

AI enabled Indoor Air Quality system

Dr. Jatin Khanpara

Chief Technology Advisor, Research Products, US

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The Materials Genome Initiative (MGI) has heralded a sea change in the philosophy of materials design. In an increasing number of applications, the successful deployment of novel materials has benefited from the use of computational, experimental and informatics methodologies. Here, we describe the role played by computational and experimental data generation, capture and management, polymer fingerprinting, machine-learning based property prediction models, algorithms for designing polymers meeting target property requirements, and how prior physics knowledge may be incorporated with polymer informatics workflows. These efforts have culminated in the creation of an online Polymer Informatics platform, to guide ongoing and future polymer discovery and design. Systematic steps that may be taken to apply such informatics efforts to a wide range of technological domains will be discussed. These include strategies to deal with the data bottleneck, methods to represent polymer formulations, morphology and processing conditions, and the applicability of emerging information fusion, physics enforcement, language models and generative AI algorithms to accelerate materials development.

Polymers & Formulations Informatics - Recent Developments & Critical Next Steps  

Dr. Kim Chiho

CTO, Matmerize, Inc., US

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This study presents a novel approach for predicting the characteristics of porous materials, such as permeability and filtration efficiency, using 2D images. The project is driven by requests from the Center for Filtration Research (CFR) members, addressing the challenge of analyzing filter structures more efficiently. Traditional methods like computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are resource-intensive, whereas 2D image analysis offers a quicker, more storage-efficient alternative. The research leverages convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to interpret 2D images and predict properties of these complex structures. A significant portion of the research focuses on building a large dataset using the GeoDict software, which simulates 3D porous structures and generates corresponding characteristics for machine learning training. The dataset includes various geometries such as spheres, fibers, and polyhedrons, ensuring the model's generalizability. A key challenge addressed by the project is how to accurately represent 3D structures using 2D images, given the loss of depth information. To mitigate this, the study explores different methods for converting 3D structures into 2D images. The CNN model has been trained to identify these patterns and predict material properties based on 2D representations. Results show that while the model performs well with isotropic structures, its generalizability can be improved when anisotropic structures are included in the training dataset. Further refinement is planned, with ongoing work to validate the model using real-world SEM images and to enhance its ability to interpret more complex structures. The potential applications of this research offer meaningful advantages for industries that depend on filtration systems, such as environmental engineering, healthcare, and manufacturing. By leveraging 2D images to predict properties like permeability and filtration efficiency, this approach aims to provide a more efficient method for evaluating filter materials. This could help streamline product development by reducing reliance on more complex simulations and offering a faster way to assess material performance. Once validated with real-world SEM images, this method may enhance material selection processes, supporting companies in refining their designs and improving filter performance. While still in development, this research presents a promising step toward more efficient and cost-effective filtration solutions.

Deep Learning for Predicting Characteristics of Porous Materials from 2D Images

Dr. Qisheng Ou

Senior Research Scientist, University of Minnesota, US

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The rapid development of AI-based methods has significantly increased the importance of data usage and data interpretation in all phases of development processes. Modern methods of data science enable development engineers to discover hidden insights in existing datasets or to create new datasets suitable for machine learning. This talk focuses on two applications for filter media and element development where AI-based methods provide additional insights and improve efficiency. The first use case highlights significant enhancements for the segmentation and microstructure characterization of synthetic filter media. Traditional methods, such as manual and OTSU-based threshold techniques, face challenges e.g. with low-density fiber materials and artifacts in high-resolution µCT scans. These challenges can be overcome by using AI-based methods for the segmentation. We will apply this method on different microstructures and compare the results with OTSU threshold-based segmentation with subsequent morphological operations. Comparison of virtual microstructural properties of both segmentation methods with material testing results serves to validate the new method and make its advantages comprehensible. The second use shows how to apply machine-learning methods on hybrid data sets for optimized filter element layouts. One goal is to enable development engineers to find optimal filter designs within seconds instead of hours. Therefore, the optimal filter element design needs to consider the design space and customer specifications, amongst others. Looking at the workflow, we will also show how to seamlessly integrate this novel design approach into the whole development process.

AI-driven Approaches for Filter Media Characterization and Element Design

Dr. Florian Keller

Director Engineering New Materials & Digitalization, MANN+HUMMEL, DE

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