New SARS air filter

Matsushita (Panasonic) has announced its environment-related subsidiary, Matsushita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd., has developed a revolutionary SARS air filter.

The new filter neutralizes or inactivates a variety of airborne allergens and viruses including the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus. Panasonic will incorporate the filter into air treatment equipment including air purifiers and humidifiers to create clean and healthy indoor environments.

The air filter features a new anti-allergen material called Super Alleru-Buster and a polyphenol-based anti-virus agent. Super Alleru-Buster is a phenol polymer-based anti-allergen material for air filters. Compared to its predecessor, the Alleru-Buster, the new fortified material can capture and inactivate more airborne particulates such as animal dander, mold spores, dust mites and pollens when used in air filters. This is the first filter in the world that has a demonstrated effectiveness in neutralizing animal dander or mold spores.

Panasonic has also developed new technologies to allow the Super Alleru-Buster to be blended and coated onto the filter substrate together with antibacterial and antivirus agents including catechin, a polyphenol compound found in green tea. Panasonic developed air filters using catechin jointly with Mitsui Norin Co., Ltd. and has used them in its air purifiers. They are now proven highly effective in inactivating the SARS virus. No other air filters have ever exhibited anti-SARS activity.

The new air filter is also effective in conserving energy as it is designed to ensure good airflow.

The new technologies involved in developing the air filter will be presented at the Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents conference in Fukui, Japan, in October 2004.

Panasonic has filed five Japanese patents on this product.

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