Zentek shows economics of graphene filters

Further advancing the disease-fighting products it developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Zentek Ltd. has released the details of a new study focused on the logistics and costs for commercial facilities that adopt its graphene-based ZenGUARD Enhanced Air Filters, as well as the benefits its product provides to mitigate the spread of airborne transmissive pathogens.

"We have learned through the pandemic that viruses spread almost exclusively when people are indoors, and one of the most common recommendations from governments and industry associations to help reduce this risk is to maximize the amount of outside air being brought into buildings," said Zentek CEO Greg Fenton. "One of the drawbacks of increasing the percentage of outside air – especially in very hot or cold climates – is the energy and emissions required to condition the air to room temperature."

After nearly a year since the independent study by the National Research Council of Canada and LMS Technologies Inc. demonstrated that ZenGUARD can significantly reduce the concentration of infectious aerosols indoors without adversely affecting airflow and energy consumption compared to equivalent non-coated, MERV-rated HVAC filters, Zentek sought to fully explore the constraints that would limit the adoption of its graphene-based filter technology.

Using the test results from the NRC and LMS, this latest study determined the exact amount of outside air required to be brought into a typical office space to achieve an equivalent risk reduction as using a ZenGUARD filter, instead of a conventional MERV 9 filter.

"With climate change and decarbonization being one of the biggest challenges facing society – and buildings contributing nearly 40% of global energy-related CO2-emissions – we need simple, scalable, carbon-conscious solutions that can control infectious aerosols and keep people safe," said Fenton. "Whether it's higher rated MERV filters that require more fan power and energy, air purifiers that have a meaningful manufacturing footprint and need a power source – or increasing the percentage of outside air – typically all other methods of controlling infectious aerosols require additional energy and create emissions way."

MERV, which stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, often followed by a rating denoting the capture of particles, is variably used depending on the needs of the building, from residential to commercial and even filtration used in high manufacturing.

Even at MERV 9, which is the lowest rating typically used in homes, the differences are stark.

For a regular MERV 9 filter to achieve a reduction in infection risk consistent with a ZenGUARD filter, the percentage of outside air would need to be increased from 20% to 53%.

This ultimately increases energy consumption, which increases costs.

By using a ZenGUARD filter to control infectious aerosols instead of increasing the percentage of outside air to achieve a similar risk reduction, Zentek estimates that a typical office space of 10,000 square feet with roughly 75 occupants can reduce HVAC energy consumption by approximately 62%.

This reduction in energy consumption equates to savings of roughly $12,400 per year and emissions of 32 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year for each office space – roughly the CO2 emissions-equivalent of driving an internal combustion engine vehicle approximately 117,000 miles.

"Based on this study and our team's research, we believe ZenGUARD Enhanced Air Filters are one of the only tools in the toolbox to help control infectious aerosols without significantly increasing energy consumption and emissions," finished Fenton. "And the ability for our product to accomplish this within existing HVAC systems that are already in most buildings means we can begin making a positive impact as soon as filters are replaced with the potential to quickly scale to many other buildings globally."

In addition to a generalized comparison to average office spaces, Zentek also extrapolated its results to all buildings within the Canadian Federal Public Service. From this, the company estimates that energy consumption could be reduced by 455.7 million kilowatt-hours, or C$68.4 million (US$50.7 million) per year.

From a carbon emissions perspective, this would equate to approximately 58,200 metric tons of CO2 per year, which Zentek compared to nearly 960,000 tree seedlings growing for 10 years to absorb.