Calistair non-thermal catalysis air purification technology for B2C applications

Overview

Calistair has developed a proprietary non-thermal catalysis technology for air purification that mineralizes volatile organic compounds (VOCs), microbiological contaminants, and chemical pollutants without producing toxic by-products such as ozone. The technology combines honeycomb structures impregnated with advanced materials—including zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)—with UV-C activation to generate hydroxyl and superoxide radicals that destroy airborne contaminants on contact.

The company is now focused on validating this technology for B2C (business-to-consumer) applications, specifically compact air purification units handling airflows up to 500–600 m³/h. Previous third-party testing has demonstrated strong efficacy across a range of VOCs and microbiological contaminants, including coronavirus HCoV-E229, E. coli, and S. aureus, but results have been inconsistent due to varying testing conditions across different laboratories. Calistair aims to establish a standardized, reproducible methodology through dedicated in-house testbeds.

Technical specifications

Core technology components:

• Proprietary non-thermal catalysis method integrated into modular reactors
• Honeycomb support structures impregnated with zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)
• UV-C activation system generating hydroxyl and superoxide radicals
• No ozone or toxic by-products produced during operation
• Scalable design suitable for retrofitting into ventilation systems or standalone air purifiers

Validation objectives:

• Two dedicated testbeds for testing gaseous and microbiological pollutants
• Single-pass and recycling air treatment configurations
• Compatibility with compact B2C units under 600 m³
• Standardized protocols to generate objective, reproducible efficacy and innocuity data
• Capability to measure performance across several dozen pollutants at varied airflow rates

Current gap: The critical PTR-MS (Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry) measurement system needed for precise VOC analysis has not yet been acquired due to its high cost. With this equipment, Calistair estimates full validation testing could commence within six months.

Technology readiness level

The technology has been validated through multiple independent third-party laboratories and institutes, demonstrating positive efficacy on a wide range of VOCs and gaseous pollutants. Microbiological testing has shown the technology can exceed one-log decontamination per airflow pass for pathogens including coronavirus HCoV-E229, E. coli, and S. aureus. However, the heterogeneous nature of existing test data limits the ability to present standardized, comparable results. Calistair has defined testing methodologies and protocols, and most equipment has been acquired for the in-house testbeds. The technology is currently at a stage where standardized B2C validation is the remaining milestone before broader consumer market deployment.