Legionnaires’ disease is a silent risk that lives in the spaces we trust most—the water in our cooling towers, the mist from our showers, the airflow through our buildings. Caused by Legionella pneumophila, this pathogen thrives in warm, stagnant water and spreads through aerosolized droplets, making both water systems and air handling units potential points of exposure.
At NASK, we have developed a bactericidal nanofiber technology that delivers measurable protection against this exact threat.
The Proof is in the Number
According to ISO 20743 (the international standard for antibacterial activity on textile products), our nanofiber achieved an Antibacterial Activity Value (AAV) of 4.9 against Legionella pneumophila Subsp. pneumophila ATCC 33152. This corresponds to an antibacterial rate of approximately 99.9987% — a level of efficacy that turns passive filtration into active inactivation.
Why This Matters for Water Filtration
Legionella bacteria colonize engineered water systems — cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot tubs, decorative fountains, and complex plumbing networks. Traditional water filters capture particles but do not necessarily kill the bacteria they trap. In fact, a damp, nutrient-rich filter can become a reservoir for biofilm and bacterial proliferation.
Our bactericidal nanofiber changes that dynamic:
- Active Inactivation on Contact: Bacteria intercepted by the fiber are neutralized rather than merely retained, preventing colonization of the filter media itself.
- Reduced Biofilm Risk: By eliminating viable bacteria at the filtration stage, the downstream risk of biofilm formation in pipes and equipment is significantly lowered.
- Longer Service Life: Filters that resist biological fouling maintain performance over time, reducing replacement frequency and maintenance costs.
Why This Matters for Air Filtration
When Legionella-contaminated water is aerosolized—through cooling tower drift, humidifiers, or industrial misting systems — the bacteria can become airborne and inhaled. This is where air filtration becomes a critical second line of defense.
Our nanofiber technology brings dual-action protection to air handling:
- High-Efficiency Capture: The fine fiber structure intercepts aerosolized droplets and particles at high efficiency.
- Simultaneous Kill Mechanism: Captured bacteria are not simply held — they are inactivated, preventing the risk of re-aerosolization or growth within the filter.
- Low Airflow Resistance: Unlike dense fiberglass media, our nanofiber maintains low pressure drop, keeping HVAC energy consumption down while delivering superior biological protection.
Application Scenarios
- Cooling Towers & Evaporative Condensers: Integrating bactericidal nanofiber into drift eliminators or pre-filters to reduce Legionella emissions.
- Building Water Systems: Point-of-use filtration for showers, faucets, and humidifiers in hospitals, hotels, and care homes.
- HVAC & Air Purification: Enhancing indoor air quality (IAQ) in facilities where water aerosolization is unavoidable.
- Industrial & Laboratory Settings: Protecting workers in environments where water mist or aerosol exposure is an occupational hazard.
The Bigger Picture
Legionnaires’ disease is preventable, yet outbreaks continue to make headlines. The challenge is not awareness — it is the lack of materials that can both capture and neutralize the pathogen at the point of interception. Our ISO 20743-validated nanofiber offers a solution that is not just theoretical, but proven by third-party testing.
For investors and partners, this represents an opportunity to back a platform technology with clear applications in public health, building safety, and environmental control. For society, it represents a step toward safer water and cleaner air.
Let’s talk about how we can bring this technology into your filtration systems.