A Peripherally Located Air Recirculation Device Containing an Activated Carbon Filter Reduces VOC Levels in a Simulated Operating Room

Abstract

Electrosurgery procedures produce airborne contaminants including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The effectiveness of commercial grade activated carbon at removing toluene, a typical VOC, from the air in an enclosed simulated operating room (OR) when interfaced with an air recirculation device was tested. The concentration of toluene in the air was measured using gas sensitive semiconductor VOC sensors. When the air recirculation device containing activated carbon was turned on, the concentration of toluene in the air decayed exponentially. When the device was of f, the toluene concentration reduced much more slowly. After 130 min, a VOC sensor placed near the air recirculation device showed VOC reductions of approximately 30% when the device is on and less than 1% when the device is of f. Changing the activated carbon filter after 22 h of constant use showed an abrupt increase in the rate of toluene removal.

Catalytic Surgical Smoke Filtration Unit Reduces Formaldehyde Levels in a Simulated Operating Room Environment

“…Further, upon insertion of a fresh sheet of activated carbon prepared from coconut shell (phase 4), the formaldehyde levels continue their descent at a similar pace compared to the saturated activated carbon filter. We previously showed that upon inserting a fresh activated carbon filter, the rate of VOC reduction abruptly increases when toluene, which is a known activated carbon adsorbate, is used as the VOC . During this fourth segment of the experiment, the concentration of formaldehyde in the air decreases by 0.14 ppm, corresponding to an 8% decrease over an approximately 60 min period and is likely a result of diffusion out of the room as suggested above.…”

“…While the activated carbon in the unit might play a role, our previous related efforts show that the rate of formaldehyde removal does not change when comparing an air-purifying system with and without activated carbon . Additionally, our previous work shows that when VOCs are adsorbed to activated carbon, the VOC concentration in the OR air decays in a biexponential manner, unlike the more linear decay shown in phase 3 of Figure . Further, upon insertion of a fresh sheet of activated carbon prepared from coconut shell (phase 4), the formaldehyde levels continue their descent at a similar pace compared to the saturated activated carbon filter.…”

Synthesis of imidazole-fused nitrogen-bridgehead heterocycles catalysed by lipase and their antifungal and antimicrobial bioactivity

“…49 In our study, the absence of any inhibition zones in antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicates that the synthesised compound cannot likely hinder microorganism growth under controlled laboratory conditions. Various factors, including the properties of the compounds, such as polarity and volatility, 50,51 its interactions with microorganisms, its resistance mechanism and the experimental procedure can contribute to this outcome. MIC is another quantitative antimicrobial susceptibility method.…”

Operating Room Air May Harbor Pathogens: The Role of an Ultraviolet Air Filtration Unit

“…Although we did not take a baseline measurement, this number may have been even higher without the incorporated cartridge in the Illuvia Sense unit. In fact, a clinical simulation showed that the use of a carbon activated lter for 2 hours was able to reduce the number of VOC up to 30% 35 . Further experiments are required to address the full potential of the unit regarding VOC clearance.…”