Ahlstrom introduces Disruptor™ nanoalumina filter technology

Nov 30, 2006 - Ahlstrom, a leader in high-performance fiber-based materials, is proud to announce the completion of an exclusive licensing agreement with the Argonide Corporation to manufacture and commercialize their patented electropositive nano fiber filter media. The new Ahlstrom product is based on Argonide technology developed through basic research over the last 5 years. The development was partially funded by NASA, aimed at purifying recycled water in advanced space vehicles, used on the moon and beyond. Argonide’s NanoCeram® water filter received the Space Foundation’s Hall of Fame award for 2005. Ahlstrom and Argonide have been working closely together to obtain independent test data validating the effectiveness of the technology and to initiate the commercialization process.

Disruptor™ is a wet laid technology that is designed to be used in pleated, spiral wound, disc or flat sheet media formats. The key to the effectiveness of Disruptor™ is the grafting of alumina nanofibers onto microglass fiber. The microglass fiber acts as a platform for the nanoalumina while also enhancing flow rates through the creation of pore space and providing mechanical retention for large or uncharged particles. The nanoalumina fibers are approximately 2 nm in diameter and several hundred nm in length, having a typical surface area of 350-500 m2 per gram. The blend of the nano and macro fibers in Disruptor™ allows for the creation of media with exceptional pressure drop to efficiency ratios and an incredible dust holding capacity. Because it is a depth filter it has inherent reliability benefits over polymeric membranes.

Disruptor™ media has a pore size of approximately 2 microns. Due to the vast surface area and huge electropositive charge of the nanoalumina fibers, the media can remove 98% of all 0.025 micron particles (based on MS2 virus) with one layer, 99.98% with two layers and 99.9999% using three layers of media.

Disruptor™ technology has been proven to remove a wide range of contaminants from water including: bacteria, virus; metals such as lead iron, tin, copper, chrome 3, and aluminum as well as colloidal minerals such as carbon dust and silica.

These unique characteristics make Disruptor™ an excellent choice as an alternative filter media to membranes for many applications. These include: Point Of Entry and Point Of Use potable water, pharmaceutical make up water, boiler feed water, chiller water, metals removal from waste water; filtration of gelatin, inks, starch, carbon, paint pigments and many other industrial and pharmaceutical processes.

Ahlstrom in brief:

Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance fiber-based materials. Nonwovens and specialty papers, made by Ahlstrom, are used in a large variety of everyday products, e.g. in filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. The company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates, built upon the company’s unique fiber expertise and innovative approach. Ahlstrom’s 5,700 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2005, Ahlstrom’s net sales amounted to EUR 1.55 billion. Ahlstrom’s share is listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. The company website is www.ahlstrom.com.

Contact Information

Rod Komlenic

VP Filtration Business Development

Ahlstrom

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