Abstract
Air purification is a key process aimed at removing harmful impurities and providing a safe and comfortable environment for human life and work. This study presents the results of an investigation into the composition, textural, and sorption properties of a multichannel carbon filtering material developed for air purification from biological (infectious) contaminants. The filtering block has a cylindrical shape and is manufactured by extrusion of a plastic composition based on carbonized rice husk with the addition of binding agents, followed by staged thermal treatment (calcination, activation, and demineralization). The filter’s effectiveness is based on the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms as the air passes through the porous surface of the sorbent, which is modified with broad-spectrum antiseptic agents (active against bacteria, bacilli, fungi, and protozoa). X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of amorphous carbon in a tubostratic structure, with a predominance of sp- and sp2-hybridized carbon atoms not incorporated into regular graphene lattices. IR spectroscopy demonstrated the presence of reactive functional groups characteristic of the developed porous structure of the material, which is capable of selective sorption of antiseptic molecules. SEM surface analysis revealed an amorphous texture with a loose structure and elements in the form of spherical semi-ring formations formed by overlapping carbon plates. An experimental setup was also developed using cylindrical multichannel carbon blocks with a diameter of 48 mm, a length of 120 mm, and 100–120 longitudinal channels with a cross-section of 1 mm2. The obtained results confirm the potential of the proposed material for use in air purification and disinfection systems under conditions of elevated biological risk.