Asha Kaliappan

With increasing environmental health events impacting air quality both indoors and outdoors, affordable and effective methods of air filtration have become imperative. In particular, particulate matter (PM) and aerosol particles pose great risks to human health, as these particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs with potential to enter the bloodstream. An effective method of combating PM and aerosol particles in indoor environments is through the use of do-it-yourself and Corsi-Rosenthal box fan air filters. These filters are often a more cost-effective alternative to conventional air filters with similar performance. In this study, different models of air filters were built using various ratings of air filters, cardboard, and duct tape. These filters were then run in a controlled chamber environment in response to aerosol particle generation of a salt solution. Simultaneously, the particle size fraction count concentrations were measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) instrument, which allowed for the clean air delivery rate (CADR) to be calculated for each model. It was found that the Corsi-Rosenthal box fan model built with MERV 13 rated filters had the highest CADR, with the performance being the most efficient for reducing aerosol particles in the chamber environment. These findings can be used to further evaluate the best model for do-it-yourself air filters, specifically in communities experiencing poorer air quality where these types of filters may be more cost-effective options.