NANOCERAMNANOCERAM®® FILTERSFILTERSWinner of 2005 Space Foundation Hall of Fame Award

Argonide Corporation, Sanford, Floridawww.argonide.com

Argonide Corporation, Sanford, FloridaArgonide Corporation, Sanford, Floridawww.argonide.comwww.argonide.com

DTRADTRA

SUMMARYSUMMARY! We invented a revolutionary microbial filter, capable of retaining sub-

micron particles with high efficiency, yet it has a high flow rate

! The active ingredient in the filter is a nano alumina fiber that is highly electropositive

! The filter retains all types of particles by electroadsorption, including silica, natural organic matter, metals, bacteria, DNA and virus.

! It has high capacity for micron size as well as nano size particles.

! Pleated filter cartridges are now available for sale.

! It has wide applications in chemical, microelectronic, and pharmaceutical manufacture, food and drink, cleaning coolants, prefilters for reverse osmosis and for cleansing drinking water.

!! We invented a revolutionary microbial filter, capable of retainiWe invented a revolutionary microbial filter, capable of retaining subng sub--micron particles with high efficiency, yet it has a high flow ramicron particles with high efficiency, yet it has a high flow ratete

!! The active ingredient in the filter is a nano alumina fiber thatThe active ingredient in the filter is a nano alumina fiber that is highly is highly electropositiveelectropositive

!! The filter retains all types of particles by The filter retains all types of particles by electroadsorptionelectroadsorption, including , including silica, natural organic matter, metals, bacteria, DNA and virus.silica, natural organic matter, metals, bacteria, DNA and virus.

!! It has high capacity for micron size as well as nano size particIt has high capacity for micron size as well as nano size particles. les.

!! Pleated filter cartridges are now available for sale. Pleated filter cartridges are now available for sale.

!! It has wide applications in chemical, microelectronic, and It has wide applications in chemical, microelectronic, and pharmaceutical manufacture, food and drink, cleaning coolants, pharmaceutical manufacture, food and drink, cleaning coolants, prefilters for reverse osmosis and for cleansing drinking water.prefilters for reverse osmosis and for cleansing drinking water.

About ArgonideAbout Argonide

!! Founded in 1994 to develop nano powders Founded in 1994 to develop nano powders

!! Argonide invented the NanoCeramArgonide invented the NanoCeram®® filter media based on a nano filter media based on a nano alumina fiber alumina fiber

!! The development has been supported by NASA for purifying The development has been supported by NASA for purifying recycled water in spacerecycled water in space

!! Other sponsors include the Departments of Energy, Air Force andOther sponsors include the Departments of Energy, Air Force andthe EPAthe EPA

!! A U S patent has issued and others have been applied for A U S patent has issued and others have been applied for

!! The NanoCeramThe NanoCeram®® technology received the 2005 Hall of Fame award technology received the 2005 Hall of Fame award from the Space Foundationfrom the Space Foundation

Electron Microscopic ImageElectron Microscopic ImageElectron Microscopic ImageNanoCeram® FibersNanoCeramNanoCeram®® FibersFibers

The active ingredient of the filter The active ingredient of the filter media is a nano alumina (AlOOH) media is a nano alumina (AlOOH) fiber, only 2 nanometers in diameter. fiber, only 2 nanometers in diameter. The nano fibers are highly The nano fibers are highly electropositive.electropositive.

Nano Alumina On Microglass FibersNano Alumina On Microglass Fibers

The nano fibers are first dispersed The nano fibers are first dispersed and adhere to glass fibers. The and adhere to glass fibers. The nano alumina is seen as a fuzz on nano alumina is seen as a fuzz on the two glass fibers. the two glass fibers.

Other fibers are added and the Other fibers are added and the mixture is processed at a paper mixture is processed at a paper mill to produce a nonmill to produce a non--woven filter. woven filter.

Because the nano alumina is Because the nano alumina is dispersed, particles have easy dispersed, particles have easy access to the charged surface.access to the charged surface.

Features of NanoCeramFeatures of NanoCeram®® FiltersFilters

! Flow rates (flux) tens to

hundreds of times greater than

ultraporous membranes

! NanoCeram separates particles

by charge rather than size

! Higher retentivity for virus than

“Absolute” ultraporous

membrane filters

! Endotoxin removal > 99.96%

! DNA removal > 99.5%

! Resistant to clogging by fine

and ultra fine particles

! Pleated versions have 5-10

times higher dirt holding

capacity than typical cartridges

! Filtration efficiency for micron

size particles >99.995%

Pilot lot of NanoCeram mediaPilot lot of NanoCeram media

The media is manufactured like paper. A major cost barrier wasThe media is manufactured like paper. A major cost barrier wasovercome when continuous manufacture was demonstrated overcome when continuous manufacture was demonstrated

Zeta Potential & Virus RemovalZeta Potential & Virus RemovalZeta Potential & Virus Removal

>99.9999>99.999923235050

>99.9999>99.999929294040

>99.9999>99.999932322525

>99.9999>99.999912121515

9494771010

2929--101055

88--353500

MS2 Retention (%)MS2 Retention (%)Zeta potentialZeta potential, , mVmVNanoCeramNanoCeram®®

Wt % on GlassWt % on Glass

Zeta potential becomes positive with increasing nanZeta potential becomes positive with increasing nanand this causes a marked increasand this causes a marked increas

o alumina o alumina e in virus (MS2) retentione in virus (MS2) retention

Filtering dirt particlesFiltering dirt particlesThis compares the dirt holding capacity for A2 fine test dust (~This compares the dirt holding capacity for A2 fine test dust (~11--4 µm)4 µm)

0.1

1

10

100

1000D

irt h

oldi

ng c

apac

ity, m

/in2

NanoaluminamicroglassMeltblownMembrane

0.2 µm 0.5 µm 1.0 µm

g

The dirt holding capacity of NanoCeramThe dirt holding capacity of NanoCeram®® is almost twenty times greater is almost twenty times greater than microglass filter media and 300 times greater than either than microglass filter media and 300 times greater than either meltblownmeltblown or or membrane media membrane media

COMPARISON OF FLOW CAPACITYCOMPARISON OF FLOW CAPACITY

0

20

40

60

80

100

Cle

an W

ater

Flu

x, m

l/min

*cm2

NanoCerammicroglassMeltblownMembrane

0.2 µm 0.5 µm 1.0 µm

Pore size rating

NanoCeram® can support a much higher flowrate than other filters rated at 1µm pore size or below.

Dirt holding capacity of a pleated cartridgeDirt holding capacity of a pleated cartridge

A 2.5A 2.5”” diameter X 5diameter X 5”” pleated cartridge was challenged by 250 NTU of fine test dust pleated cartridge was challenged by 250 NTU of fine test dust at 1.5 gallons/min. At 90 minutes (141 gallons) it had filtered at 1.5 gallons/min. At 90 minutes (141 gallons) it had filtered out 119 grams of dust out 119 grams of dust while producing an effluent < 0.01 NTU, at which point the test while producing an effluent < 0.01 NTU, at which point the test was terminated was terminated because of excessive pressure drop, but without breakthrough. Ibecause of excessive pressure drop, but without breakthrough. It had removed t had removed >99.996% of dirt throughout the test.>99.996% of dirt throughout the test.

0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

30 180 330 480

Efflu

ent t

urbi

dity

, NTU

0

25

50

75

Pres

sure

dro

p, p

si

Effluent turbidity

Pressure drop

Volume, L

RNA Adsorption Curves as Function of ThicknessRNA Adsorption Curves as Function of Thickness

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

0 10 20 30 40 50

CEf

fluen

t/CIn

fluen

t

four plies

two plies

one ply

adsorbed RNA, mg

DNA and RNA are filtered much like virus. The thicker the filter, the higher is the retention factor.

FILTRATION OF SUBFILTRATION OF SUB--MICRON ORGANIC PARTICLESMICRON ORGANIC PARTICLES

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Ads

orba

nce

and

turb

idity

, rel

ativ

e u

itsrelative turbidity @ challenge turbidity 2.3 NTU

relative absorbance @ 10 ppm challenge concentration

Filtered volume per unit surface area, L/cm2

n

The filter is excellent for adsorbing turbidity. Filters (25 mmThe filter is excellent for adsorbing turbidity. Filters (25 mm diameter) removed humic acid, an diameter) removed humic acid, an organic particle small enough to pass through “Absolute” 0.2 organic particle small enough to pass through “Absolute” 0.2 µµ filters. Note the high filtration filters. Note the high filtration efficiency until at least 0.4 liters of fluid/cmefficiency until at least 0.4 liters of fluid/cm22 of filter area. of filter area.

Nano ink adsorption Nano ink adsorption –– Slide # 1Slide # 1

A pigment ink with a particle size of about 2 nm was diluted A pigment ink with a particle size of about 2 nm was diluted until it was transparent.until it was transparent.

Ink Test - #2Ink Test Ink Test -- #2#2When forced through a 25 nm When forced through a 25 nm ultraporous (UP) membrane ultraporous (UP) membrane (Millipore VS), the back pressure (Millipore VS), the back pressure was very high. The small amount of was very high. The small amount of ink that passed through the UP ink that passed through the UP membrane was as colored as the membrane was as colored as the influent.influent.

After the test, the UP filter showed very little color changeAfter the test, the UP filter showed very little color change

Ink Test - #3Ink Test Ink Test -- #3#3

When the ink was injected through the When the ink was injected through the

NanoCeramNanoCeram®® filter, the back pressure was filter, the back pressure was

low and filtration was easy. Yet the effluent low and filtration was easy. Yet the effluent

came out water white. The filter (above) came out water white. The filter (above)

was intensely colored, proving that it was intensely colored, proving that it

retained nanometer size particles.retained nanometer size particles.

Filter configurationsFilter configurations

!! Pleated filter Pleated filter –– Large area with high flow, high dirt capacity, and Large area with high flow, high dirt capacity, and high efficiency. Excellent for filtering particles down to abouhigh efficiency. Excellent for filtering particles down to about 0.1 t 0.1 microns. microns.

!! Thicker depth filters are necessary for achieving >99.99% Thicker depth filters are necessary for achieving >99.99% retention of virus to meet EPA certification as a drinking waterretention of virus to meet EPA certification as a drinking waterfilter. filter. Such filters are in development. Such filters are in development.

DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING STATUSDEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING STATUS

Pleated cartridges 2.5” diameter, 5” and 10” long are currently available and 20” long will be available September 2005

Pleated 4.5”cartridges 10” and 20” long will be available in September

Design and development is underway for a cartridge suitable for certification to the EPA Guide Standard for Drinking Water Filters

PLEATED NANOCERAMPLEATED NANOCERAM®® CARTRIDGESCARTRIDGES

2.5” diameter cartridges – 5” and 10” long (P2.5-5 and P2.5-10) are shown. The smallest unit is a prototype.

4.5” diameter X 10” long (P4.5-10) is also shown.

SUGGESTED APPLICATIONS SUGGESTED APPLICATIONS –– PREFILTERS PREFILTERS FOR REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANESFOR REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANES

!! RO filters are highly sensitive to fouling by subRO filters are highly sensitive to fouling by sub--micron particles micron particles and are expensive to replace. and are expensive to replace.

!! Ultraporous (UP) membranes are used as RO Ultraporous (UP) membranes are used as RO prefiltersprefilters. They . They are also easily fouled, so they are also used in a crossare also easily fouled, so they are also used in a cross--filtration filtration mode to minimize fouling. mode to minimize fouling.

!! Cross flow filtration results in a waste stream, often 3Cross flow filtration results in a waste stream, often 3--10 times 10 times greater than the stream being purified. greater than the stream being purified.

!! NanoCeramNanoCeram®® is used in direct flow and there is no waste streamis used in direct flow and there is no waste stream!! NanoCeram has a very high capacity for particles without needingNanoCeram has a very high capacity for particles without needing

to be cleaned as in the case of UP membranesto be cleaned as in the case of UP membranes

CLEANCLEAN--UP OF WATER COOLANTSUP OF WATER COOLANTS

!! Coolants can harbor pathogenic bacteria such as Coolants can harbor pathogenic bacteria such as LegionellaLegionella. . NanoCeramNanoCeram®® will filter bwill filter bacteria and turbidity and because of its acteria and turbidity and because of its higher capacity. The cost of changing out filters is substantiahigher capacity. The cost of changing out filters is substantially lly reduced.reduced.

!! Coolants are also used in cutting and grinding and EDM (electro Coolants are also used in cutting and grinding and EDM (electro discharge) machines. The fluid is filtered to remove suspended discharge) machines. The fluid is filtered to remove suspended metals. Ultrametals. Ultra--fine metal powders are generally not removed by fine metal powders are generally not removed by conventional filters and reconventional filters and re--circulate, affecting tolerances and circulate, affecting tolerances and causing poor finishes. Suspended particles contain nickel and causing poor finishes. Suspended particles contain nickel and other metals that are potential health hazards. Bacteria also bother metals that are potential health hazards. Bacteria also build uild up in such coolants. up in such coolants.

NanoCeram® will filter out suspended metals and bacteria NanoCeram® will filter out suspended metals and bacteria reducing their potential to be aerosolized and dispersed when threducing their potential to be aerosolized and dispersed when the e fluid is reused. fluid is reused.

PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOTECH PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOTECH APPLICATIONSAPPLICATIONS

!! Removal of contaminants from incoming water Removal of contaminants from incoming water

!! PrefilteringPrefiltering for reverse osmosis filters for reverse osmosis filters

!! Filtering Filtering endotoxinsendotoxins, bacteria and virus , bacteria and virus

!! Filtering hazardous pharmaceutical waste before Filtering hazardous pharmaceutical waste before disposal disposal

!! Separation of proteinsSeparation of proteins

OTHER APPLICATIONSOTHER APPLICATIONS

!! Swimming pools and spas (we are tooling up for large Swimming pools and spas (we are tooling up for large (20+ gallons/min) capacity filters (20+ gallons/min) capacity filters

!! Processing food and drinkProcessing food and drink-- Removal of bacteria, yeast Removal of bacteria, yeast and sediment from wine and beer and sediment from wine and beer

!! PrefiltrationPrefiltration prior to ultraviolet or ozone treatment to prior to ultraviolet or ozone treatment to minimize the burden on such processesminimize the burden on such processes

!! Filtering turbidity, cysts and bacteria from household Filtering turbidity, cysts and bacteria from household well waterwell water

!! Biological warfare filters for military, hospitals and other Biological warfare filters for military, hospitals and other critical buildingscritical buildings

Argonide CorporationArgonide CorporationSanford, FloridaSanford, Florida(407) 322(407) 322--25002500

Info@argonide.comInfo@argonide.comwww.argonide.comwww.argonide.com