OSIRYS – Forest based composites for façades and interior partitions to improve indoor air quality in new builds and restoration

Improved indoor air quality through photocatalytically active coatings

© Fraunhofer IGB
Reduction of CFUs by exposure to light using the example of A. brasiliensis.
Application of the developed coating via spray gun.
© Fraunhofer IGB
Application of the developed coating via spray gun.

Our health and well-being are negatively affected by harmful substances indoors. Such harmful substances are, for example, outgassing compounds from furniture and carpets or contamination of the breathing air with spores from any mold that is present. De-polluting paints for outdoor applications have already been established with titanium dioxide as the active material, although the challenge is to achieve this effect even with normal room lighting.

Within the framework of the EU project OSIRYS, Fraunhofer IGB has developed a photocatalytically active interior paint in cooperation with SICC GmbH. The effect is based on the formation of active oxygen species when irradiated with light which chemically attack organic compounds. Fraunhofer IGB has investigated the photocatalytic activity of various commercially available materials under application-relevant conditions. This included the evaluation of the effect on organic compounds and microorganisms.

With the most active TiO2 material, a paint has been developed by SICC. With standardized office lights, this coating for interiors shows high activity levels against microorganisms such as Sarcina lutea and Aspergillus brasiliensis, the cause of black mold. After 3 days of exposure to light, a reduction of the colony-forming units (CFU) from 10,000 to 10, and after 7 days to zero, was achieved for Aspergillus brasiliensis. No bacteria were reduced without light. Similar values were obtained for Sarcina lutea. Commercial distribution is to be carried out via SICC GmbH.

Project information

Project title

OSIRYS – Forest based composites for façades and interior partitions to improve indoor air quality in new builds and restoration

 

Project duration

June 2013 – May 2017

 

Project partners

  • TECNALIA, Donostia-San Sebastián (Spain) (Coordinator)
  • acciona S.A., Alcobendas, (Spain)
  • Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT, Espoo (Finland)
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart (Germany)
  • AIMPLAS, Paterna/Valencia (Spain)
  • IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet, Stockholm (Sweden)
  • Tecnaro Gesellschaft zur industriellen Anwendung nachwachsender Rohstoffe mbH, Ilsfeld (Germany)
  • NetComposites LTD, Chesterfield (England)
  • Omikron-Dokk Kft., Felsőörs (Hungary)
  • Conenor LTD, Orimattila (Finland)
  • Van Berkel & Bos U.N. Studio B.V., Amsterdam (Netherlands)
  • Amorim Cork Composites, Mozelos - Santa Maria da Feira (Portugal)
  • ENAR Envolventes Arquitectonicas S.L., Madrid (Spain)
  • Bergamo Tecnologie Sp. Zo.o, Konstantynów Łódzki (Poland)
  • VISESA - Vivienda y Suelo de Euskadi S.A., Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba (Spain)
  • SICC GMBH, Berlin (Germany)
  • Collanti Concorde S.r.l., Vittorio Veneto TV (Italy)
  • Tartu City Government (Rathaus), Tartu (Estonia)

 

 

Funding

We would like to thank the European Union, seventh framework programme for funding the project "OSIRYS – Forest based composites for façades and interior partitions to improve indoor air quality in new builds and restoration", promotional reference 609067.

Literature

[1] Müller, M.; Trick, I. (2015) Active paints to improve indoor air quality, VII International Congress on Architectural Envelopes, May 27–29 2015, San Sebastian-Donostia, Spain
[2] Walczok, W.; Oehr, C.; Müller, M. (2016) Multifunktionale Beschichtungen mit photokatalytischer Wirkung, NanoDialog der Bundesregierung, FachDialog Chancen und Risiken der Anwendung von Nanotechnologien im Baubereich, 23.11.2016, Berlin, Germany