The European Patent Office (EPO) has decided to grant a team of scientists from the UG Department of Chemistry a European patent for an invention - a material, based on TiO2 nanotubes, for air purification from volatile organic and inorganic compounds, dust and microorganisms.
The invention entitled: 'Material from titanium for air purification from organic and inorganic compounds, dust and micro-organisms', based on a material from TiO2 nanotubes, by a decision of the EPO, gains protection in European countries. In the next step, after market analysis and an assessment of potential customers for the technology, in consultation with the inventors of the invention, UG will decide on the validation of the patent in specific countries.
dr hab. inż. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska, project manager.
- 'The material with photocatalytic properties, which was created as a result of the research work, can be implemented in devices designed to purify the air in urban areas, e.g. photocatalytic towers, which will allow simultaneous removal of volatile organic and inorganic compounds - such as NOx and SO2, dust and microorganisms, and thus improve air quality,' - explains prof. dr hab. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska from the Photocatalysis Laboratory of the Faculty of Chemistry of the UG, who heads the project.
The solution will also find application in portable or stationary devices designed to remove chemical pollutants such as NH3, SO2, NOx and microbiological pollutants such as bacteria, fungi, fungal spores and viruses, in enclosed spaces or vehicle cabins. Furthermore, products manufactured based on this technology can be used in the ventilation, lighting or automotive sectors, among others.
Pictured from the left: dr inż. Anna Gołąbiewska, dr inż. Paweł Mazierski, dr inż. Beata Bajorowicz and further on dr inż. Anna Malankowska
The creators of the invention are prof. dr hab. inż. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska and a team of scientists composed of: dr inż. Marek Kobylański, mgr Patrycja Parnicka, dr inż. Anna Malankowska, dr inż. Paweł Mazierski, dr inż. Joanna Nadolna, dr inż. Beata Bajorowicz and dr inż. Anna Gołąbiewska.
- 'The UG intellectual property portfolio is expanding - among 78 protected inventions, 13 gained European protection,' - says Katarzyna Gronowska, director of the UG Technology Transfer Centre, the unit responsible for coordination of the invention intellectual property protection process.