Microorganisms contaminating water and air filters pose significant health risks and reduce the efficiency and lifespan of filtration systems. While filters are crucial for removing particulates and microorganisms from liquids and gases, they are vulnerable to microbial contamination and biofouling. This can spread pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella and decrease filter performance. To address these shortcomings, antimicrobial technologies are essential in filtration applications. The European Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) has led to restrictions on many existing antimicrobial agents, emphasizing the need for new, effective, and safe solutions.

AGXX is an innovative antimicrobial technology based on a catalytic redox cycle that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) from water and oxygen. Additionally, the formation of a micro electric field between two precious metals further enhances the antimicrobial activity. The catalytic mechanism has demonstrated its efficacy against more than 130 microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, yeast, algae, and fungi. Demonstrated targets include P. aeruginosa, E. hirae, silver-resistant E. coli strains, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), or CoV2 viruses and AGXX has also been shown to prevent biofilm formation.

Due to this novel mechanism of action, AGXX differs from conventional antimicrobial technologies that are mostly based on the release of silver ions into the environment and therefore face regulatory pressure. AGXX is not based on the release of harmful substances into the environment and convinces with its long-lasting performance as shown in field studies.

The technology is commercially available in various product types, well suited for incorporation in and onto textile filters or for direct use as a carbon-based additive in form of granules, and pellets. To combine strong antimicrobial properties with high-quality activated carbon, Heraeus has entered into a partnership with CarboTech, which offers AGXX-impregnated activated carbon as part of its product portfolio. The current work describes a large-scale synthesis for activated carbon based AGXX materials, detailing their application in water and air purification against relevant microorganisms and sharing selected case studies.