NRI Doctor,Pratim Biswas: A new device has recently
been patented to capture and destroy bioagents such
as the Anthrax, smallpox virus and ricin

Washington, March 8, 2004
By A. Singh

SMART CATALYSTS, a new device for trapping and deactivating microbial particles has recently been patented. It has the potential to benefit the war on terrorism by deactivating airborne bioagents and bioweapons such as the smallpox virus, anthrax, and ricin, as well as routine indoor air ventilation applications, such as in buildings and aircraft cabins. Biswas and his collaborators have tested the device using non-potent polio virus and have achieved 99.9999 percent efficiency

The device combines an electrical field with soft rays and smart catalysts to capture and destroy bioagents. "When the aerosol particles come into the device they are charged and trapped in an electrical field," explained Pratim Biswas, Ph.D., Stifel & Quinette Jens Professor of Environmental Engineering Sciences and director of Environmental Engineering Sciences at Washington University. "Any organic material is oxidized, so it completely deactivates the organism."

Biswas noted that conventional corona systems do not charge and effectively trap nanometer-sized particles, such as viruses. But his invention combines soft x-rays with a conventional corona that has been proven to be very effective at charging and trapping particles in a range of sizes.

The walls of the device have coated nanoparticles that catalyze the oxidation. These nanoparticles are "smart" objects that are turned "on" and "off" by irradiation.

Washington University in St. Louis has a core group of six faculty who are mainstream aerosol researchers, and work on different aspects related to Aerosol Science and Engineering. This nationally and internationally recognized group of scientists, one of the largest groups in U. S. universities, studies the synthesis and environmental impact of nanoparticles, atmospheric pollution at the regional and global scales, and develops the next generation of instrumentation for detection of these particles, as well as several environmental nanotechnology applications.

Biswas was part of a special colloquium, "Research in Aerosols and Air Quality," held March 2, 2004, at Washington University. The event was organized under the university's Sesquicentennial Environmental Initiative wherein world-renowned researchers reported the latest findings in the aerosol engineering field. The colloquium, was part of a series of environmental dialogues held in honor of Washington University's 150th anniversary.

PRATIM BISWAS
Stifel and Quinette Jens Professor
Director, Environmental Engineering Science
Washington University in St. Louis

Coordinates
Departments of Chemical and Civil Engineering
Environmental Engineering Science Program
Washington University in St. Louis
One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1180
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899

The Aerosol and Air Quality Research Laboratory (AAQRL) Educational and Research Interests Teaching and research interests include aerosol science and engineering; nanoparticle technology; air quality engineering;combustion; materials processing for environmental technologies, environmentally benign processing, environmental nanotechnology, and the thermal sciences.

Education
1985 Ph.D. California Institute of Technology
1981 M.S. University of California, Los Angeles
1980 B.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Professional Experience
2000 - current Jens Professor and Director, Environmental Engr.
Washington University in St. Louis
1993 - 2000 Professor, University of Cincinnati
1998 - 2002 Associate Editor, Aerosol Science and Technology
1998 - 2000 Chair, Critical Review Committee, AWMA
1998- current Member, Critical Review Committee, AWMA
1998 - 2000 Board of Directors, AAAR, Executive Committee
1995 - 1998 Director, Environmental Engineering and Science Div.
University of Cincinnati
1994 Visiting Scientist, Natl. Inst. of Stds. & Tech.
1989 - 1993 Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati
1985 - 1989 Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati
1981 - 1985 Graduate Asst., California Institute of Technology
1980 - 1981 Graduate Asst., University of California, Los Angeles
1979 Trainee Engineer, Voltas India Inc.

Classes That I Teach
1) Aerosol Science and Technology, Env/ChE 518
2) Advanced Topics in Aerosol Science, Env/ChE 592 (alternate (even) years)
3) Topics in Nanotechnology, Env/ChE/ME 564 (alternate (odd) years)
4) Environmental Engineering Science Seminar, Env 5908
5) Transport Phenomena, ChE 368

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