CA BIN H Y GIENE
Light relief
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
078 JUNE 2020
SYNERGISTIC
BIOCIDES
Aerocare 1-03 Sanitiser, which contains a unique
formulation of multiple synergistic biocides, can be applied
to any cabin surface using a spray and microfibre cloth and
has been tested to EN 14476, a standard specific to
enveloped viruses such as coronaviruses. Specific
testing against strains of coronaviruses have shown
48 hours of protection (28 days of protection against
other microorganisms), and the company is awaiting
Covid-19 test results. Aerocare 1-03 can also be
used in a foaming dispenser for hand washing. The
company says the product has been successfully
tested to BS EN1276, BS EN 1650, EN 13704,
EN 13623, EN 1500, EN 6920, Boeing
D6 7127, AMS 1452B, and
EN 14476.
ANTIBAC
SURFACE
TREATMENT
Wollsdorf has developed Evo+, an antibacterial
surface treatment for leather, which is applied into
the lacquer during the leather-finishing process in the
tannery. Following a series of JIS Z 2801/ISO 22196 tests verified
by laboratories, the company says the treatment effectively reduces
bacteria on leather surfaces by 99.9%, and that this protection can
last for several years between cleaning cycles. The active agent used
fulfils all requirements according to the European Biocidal Products
Regulation (BPR, No. 528/2012) and the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
The company is also conducting surface tests to evaluate
the treatment’s antiviral properties and has reported
“very exciting” results in tests with viruses
comparable to Covid-19. Tests are ongoing.
BARRIER
COATING
The Leather Institute has developed the ‘ClearCabin
system – Powered by PreventX’, an antimicrobial barrier
treatment that when applied to a surface forms an invisible
bio-barrier coating that kills microbes by piercing their cell
walls, and prevents the growth of bacteria, mould and fungi.
The product can be applied to any surface leather, plastics
or laminates and can be sprayed on textiles and carpets.
The system is odourless and colourless, and remains active
for up to 90 days. According to the company, validation
tests by third-party European labs have shown that
the system is effective across a broad spectrum of
known bacteria and has 99.99% effectiveness
against Covid-19 surrogates.
PURIFICATION
SYSTEM FOR
GROUND USE
The Ionization Purification System is a portable ion
distribution unit developed by Aviation Clean Air (ACA)
and International Aero Engineering that disinfects
cabins within two hours while the aircraft is on the
ground. The unit creates positive and negative ions
from the hydrogen and oxygen molecules in the
water vapour present in the cabin air, which are
then distributed as a cleaning agent to purify
the air and surfaces, with no chemicals,
ozone or other emissions, and with
no damage to fabrics or
carpeting.
A coating that activates in low-intensity light to
kill bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and
Escherichia coli has been developed by a team of
researchers from University College London (UCL).
The research is the first to show a light-activated
antimicrobial coating killing bacteria in low intensity,
ambient light (300 lux), such as that found in hospital
wards and waiting rooms. Previously, similar
coatings needed intense light (3,000 lux), like that
found in operating theatres, to activate their killing
properties. The bactericidal coating is made of tiny
clusters of chemically modified gold embedded in a
polymer with crystal violet – a dye with antibacterial
and antifungal properties.
Dr Gi Byoung Hwang from UCL’s chemistry faculty
explains, “Dyes such as crystal violet are promising
candidates for killing bacteria and keeping surfaces
sterile. When exposed to bright light, they create
reactive oxygen species, which in turn kill bacteria
by damaging their protective membranes and DNA.
This is amplified when they are paired with metals
such as silver, gold and zinc oxide.”
UCL’s Prof Ivan Parkin adds that, “Other coatings
have effectively killed bacteria, but only after
exposure to UV light, which is dangerous to humans,
or intense light sources, which aren’t practical. We
are surprised to see how effective our coating is in
killing S. aureus and E. coli in ambient light.”
The team unexpectedly discovered that the coating
kills bacteria by producing hydrogen peroxide – a
relatively mild reagent used in contact lens cleaner.
It works by chemically attacking the cell membrane,
and therefore takes longer to work on bacteria with
more layers of protection. The gold clusters in the
coating are key to generating the hydrogen peroxide,
through the action of light and humidity. Given the
clusters contain only 25 atoms of gold, very little of
this precious metal is required compared to similar
coatings, making the coating attractive for wider use.
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com