Plasma Technology Offers Breathable Air in Biological and Chemical Threat Situations
"This is a technology that we wish the nation wouldn't need, but in light of our changing times, it's satisfying to be part of a solution that can help protect people and even save lives," said Ken Rappe, PNNL's senior development engineer.
PNNL's filtration system is unlike any other because it doesn't use common High Efficiency Particulate Air, or HEPA, filters. Instead, researchers found that by using plasma to destroy airborne contaminants that come through the filters, they actually lasted much longer, making the system more reliable and less cumbersome to operate.