DELPHIN eliminate Coronavirus Influenza A(H1N1)

Field test: The DELPHIN in daily use

A test often produces theoretical results which do not always reflect conditions in dayto-day use.

To test the DELPHIN real-life conditions we recommend the following procedure: The tester should be familiar with the DELPHIN and test the product in a typical natural environment. The DELPHIN cleans surfaces and the air every time you use it! Notice that after every use your DELPHIN will always be clean, fully functional and always has full high performance.

The best person to test such a device will always be the user himself/herself. Read more on consumer test evaluations in these independent consumer test forums:
www.testberichte.de (http://www.testberichte.de/r/produkt-meinung/delphin-dp-2002-19269-1.html)

Experience the DELPHIN first-hand at home!

TÜV examination

This TÜV examination was commissioned by the Local Court in Leonberg.

The examination focused on three questions:

• When used over a longer period of time, is there a build-up of germs in the DELPHIN?
• How effective is the binding power when the water has been highly contaminated with germs?
• How effective is the separation quality of micro-biological particles?

A book authored by Prof. Dr. med., Dr.- Ing.habil. Wilfried Diebschlag
Medical Doctor for Occupational Health, Technische Universität München and Chairman of German Gesellschaft für Gesundheit und Ernährung e.v.
ISBN-3-89675-931-0

House Dust Mite Control

... In Germany, a large number of humidifiers are available on the market using different technologies (cold air, hot-air evaporator/vaporizer etc.). These may be large, high-performance devices, or smaller devices used at work spaces or in private homes. Hot-air vaporizers prevent germ formation in the water tank. They do not use wet filters, which can be hygienically critical. After the device has been switched off, the water tank must be emptied and dried up immediately.

Ideally, air humidity levels do not sink below 35% r.F. as this may cause drying of the nasal passage and bronchial mucosa (Rhinitis sicca) and discomfort. There is likely to be a correlation to the Sick Building Syndrome (Baur 11; Brede-Weisflog 33). Due to possible mite formation and the afore-mentioned physiological and hygienic problems the relative air humidity should be between 35% and 60% r.F.

4.3.2.4 Room and Air Purification Systems

In Germany, in work and private environments people spend more than 90% of their daytime in a sitting or lying position. Body functions such as breathing may be drastically reduced. Rooms and ambient air are often contaminated with allergic substances, dust, cigarette smoke and chemically irritating and/or toxic substances from chipboard furniture (=> HVBG (17)/G23;G29: aerosols, dicarboxylic acid anhydrides, formaldehydes, isocyanates, irritant gases, solvents), PVC floors, bonded carpets, wall paints, varnish, paints, or glazed surface. There may therefore be a lack of the hygienic standards and natural fresh air (see Diller 58a and Kaberlah et al. 96) that allergy sufferers require. Correspondingly, the occupational diseases BK no. 4301 and 5101 may also apply to private environments.

The first home vacuum cleaner built by the American J. M. Spangler (1907) is based on the findings of H. C. Booth (1901) and M.R. Bissel (1876). As of 1908, the power-generated vacuum devices produced by Hoover became a worldwide sales success. In Germany alone, 10 million vacuum cleaners and approx. 100 million filter bags are sold every year! However, up until only a few years ago, no one has thought of the unhygienic conditions and other negative health aspects such as allergies which are caused by the wide variety of filter dust bags used in every vacuum cleaner. If the air loaded with contaminated substances were to be sucked through a water tank equipped with a >Centrifugal Fine Particles Separator< instead of dust bags and filters used in conventional vacuum cleaners (= dry vacuum cleaner), wet/humid dirt, as well as germs and allergens would be separated far more efficiently. Workplace doctors are familiar with the water-based principle. Had Mr. Hoover been a doctor he may have considered the fact that nature has designed the breathing organs of humans and animals as >Water Vacuum Cleaners< which catch dust and germ substances at the humid air way and mucous membrane with every breath.

The level of purity of the air coming out of a vacuum cleaner largely depends on the overall design and, in particular, of the quality of the separator (image 29). The following technical features are a prerequisite:

• Variable turbojet blower ranging from 0.5 to 2 m³ air suction/min;
• Completely sealed motor, therefore no carbon dust is contained in the exhaust air;
• No foam or similar insulation material used to avoid germ generation;
• No dust whirled up, therefore avoiding alveolar-prone fine dust (< Ø 7 µm up to Ø 0,03 µm) by using two nozzles moving in the opposite direction, thus reducing the air flow rate to a large extent;
• High-performance 90-mm diameter L-Lamella technology infinitely variable from approx. 6,000 to 14,000 rpm, filtering even the finest exhaust air particles. This requires a technically optimized design of the separator in respect to volume and air flow (=> inflow velocity, rotation speed), particularly large ports (> 40 cm²) and separator lamella to improve air flow.
• High quality air ventilation and cleaning systems also fulfill electrical safety requirements, shielding, noise reduction by integrated resonance rooms, automatic motor control to optimize suction performance (>detection sensors<) depending on additionally mounted units, and electric brushes.

The hydro vacuum system DELPHIN by PROAIR fully complies with the requirements mentioned above. It is therefore not only a vacuum cleaner but also an efficient >Room Cleaner< ideal for asthma and allergy sufferers, and constitutes a highly valued, natural breathing facilitator. Air purification systems and methods, as i.e. mentioned by van Bronswijk (39) and Antonicelli et al. (4), fail to reach the efficiency level as described above (see table 12). Knowing that just a tiny amount of whirled-up ambient air contains at least 1.5 million particles sized 0 < 7 µm per milliliter (see Chapter 2.2.4.1) it is concluded that on average, with every breath taken the airway is bombarded with at least 30 trillion (!) germs, dust and allergic substances daily. A great number of scientific surveys and expert assessments (Gall et al. 74) nationally and internationally ascertain that hydro vacuum cleaning systems that are used as air cleaning systems reduce these harmful substances, and are particularly helpful to enhance sleep at night. The acuteness of atopic eczema and house mite allergies is statistically significantly reduced when regularly applying effective room cleaning systems.

These findings can be beneficial to one’s health and are therapeutically quite significant as almost one quarter of food allergies show organic manifestations in the airways (image 30). Any further exposure to mites and dust should therefore be minimized. Symptoms caused by allergens may be

1. exhaustion, fatigue
2. nervous tension, depressions
3. (rheumatic) joint aches
4. headaches, migraine
5. cardiovascular diseases (high/low pulse, blood pressure, stomach ache)
6. difficulty in breathing, obstruction, asthma
7. skin problems, psoriasis
8. hyperactive children, as well as
9. irritation of conjunctiva, irritation of bronchial mucosa
10. chronic colds
11. sneezing fits, coughing
12. skin rash, or quincke’s oedema.

This may result in sleep disorders, lack of regeneration, as well as other personal restsrictions (lack of wellbeing) and work restrictions (performance, fitness to drive). Furthermore, industry and trade organizations are aware that work-related dust conditions not only provide personal discomfort, but are also a health-risk, toxic and carcinogenic. Accordingly, effective exhaust ventilation and other technical solutions to protect employees are in place. According to BIA (German Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institut für Arbeitssicherheit), dust-removing systems are subdivided into different categories depending on the type of dust. Dust particles are generally subdivided into dust grades L (low), M (medium) and H (high, incl. carcinogenic dust and pathogens). With reference to threshold limit values and according to ZH 1/487 certain requirements for air filtering have to be met (see EU and DIN standards).

PROAIR GmbH
Leutkircher Straße 24
z. H. Herrn Grassinger

88316 Isny

Examination no. 1740 from 6th December 1994

Assessment of effect of air washer DELPHIN

Definition of tasks:

- Evaluation of the cleaning performance of the air washer regarding the reduced concentration of mould spores/yeasts in the room air.

- Evaluation of the cleaning performance when used to clean mattresses.

The examination will be carried out at the home of the family Milz from Bottentann, community of Friesenhofen. The home is on an agricultural property. The bedroom faces South on the first floor.

Furniture: wood floor, carpet, double bed, cupboard, chest of drawers;

Date of sampling: 6th December 1994, 9.00 - 11.00 o'clock in the morning

Execution:

First measurements:

To determine the mould spores/yeasts, the collector for airborne germs RCS Plus from the company Biotest is used in combination with indicator strips no. HS 941200 for moulds/yeasts.

Measurement conditions: - air temperature in the room: 16.5 °C
- rel. humidity 75 %
- air pressure 1028 mbars
- sucked in volume of air is 250 litres each,
- suction capacity is 50 litres per minute.
- The strips are incubated for a minimum of 3 days at a temperature of 30 °C.

Sampling plan:
A) Determination of moulds/yeasts concentration in the air by collector of airborne germs
B) measurement for comparison with outside air
C) measurement of room air after plumping up bedding
D) measurement of room air after cleaning with air washer: 2 m³ per minute, duration of 15 minutes

Second measurements:

To determine the cleaning performance with regard to the cleaning of the mattress, dust and water samples of the air washer are taken with the aid of a filter cloth.

Sampling plan:
A) suction test of filter cloth (3 cloths after another) of a mattress covered in a bed sheet (Metzeler Rubex-Carat, approx. 8 weeks old)
B) clean filter cloth for comparison
C) suction test on filter cloth of a new mattress without bed sheet
D1) water sampling after cleaning of mattress (new mattress) - about 2 min.
D2) water sampling after cleaning of mattress - innerspring mattress about 17 years old - approx. 2 minutes
E) suction test of old mattress on filter cloth
F) suction test of carpet on filter cloth - after complete cleaning of new mattress with DELPHIN (surface approx. 0.5 m², processing time about 10 min.)
G) suction test on filter cloth
H) suction test in water

Dust samples are examined for moulds/yeasts, mites as well as residual faecal matter of house dust mites and water samples are examined for moulds and yeasts, respectively.

Laboratory tests:
The determination of moulds/yeasts in water samples will be executed in accordance with § 35 German Food and Commodities Act (LMBG).

A quarter of the dusters is used respectively for the proof of house dust mites. The quantity of dust found there is removed, suspended in a little bit of NaCI (0.9 %), magnified a 100-fold and examined under a microscope.

One half of the dusters are examined for allergens (faecal particles of house dust mites). The semiquantitative Acarex test is used for this. This test is availabe in pharmacies. (A quantitative methode does not exist yet.)

The determination of moulds and yeasts on dusters is executed following § 35 LMBG. A quarter of the dusters is used here, inserted into a suitable culture medium (peptone water) and then the moulds and yeasts are quantitaviely determined after preparing a dilution series. The same was done to the water samples.

Results:

First measurements:

Second measurements:

House dust mites and allergens

Apart from the acquisition of the moulds and yeasts, the filter cloths were also examined directly for the existence of mites or rather mite allergens.
However, during the microscopic examination, 2 individuals could be spotted solely in suction test A. Apart from that, no house dust mites could be perceived on the filter cloths.
Mite allergens were supposed to be proven in the dust samples of the filter cloths with the help of the Acarex test.
However, in the samples A, C and E no mite allergens could be proven.

Summary:

The capability of the air washer to remove for the human organism straining airborne contents, in this case moulds and yeasts, is supposed to be examined with the aid of the first measurements.

The result of the measurements clearly shows a plunge in the number of mould spores and yeast cells in the air of the room after starting up the air washer. While the quantity of CFU (Colony-Forming Unit) rose from 32 to 44 after plumping up the bed, a distinctive reduction to 8 CFU per m³ with the aid of the air washer (operating time about 15 min.) could be achieved.

An executed measurement for comparison that is supposed to take the strain on the outside air by moulds and yeasts into account, shows that the strain on the indoor air is comparable to the strain on outside air. This corresponds with bibliographical references that expect a low concentration of mould spores in the outside air for the months of November until April. The concentration is on average at 40 CFU per m³.

This means that thanks to the air washer DELPHIN, even after a short period of application, not only the raised quantity of CFU of moulds and yeasts is reduced, which is caused by making the bed, but also the quantitiy of CFU is lowered beneath the germ load of the outside air.
Lit.: K. Senkspiel, H. Ohgke, Beurteilung der Schimmelpilz-Sporenkonzentration in der Innenraumluft und ihre gesundheitlichen Auswirkungen, Gesundheits-Ingenieur 113 (1992) Heft 1

The capability of the air washer, for cleaning of mattresses, is supposed to be examined with the aid of the second measurements.

As the test results on page 5 show, a distinctive strain on the filter cloths by mould spores and yeast cells can be documented for the measurements A,C and E, even after a short suction time (less than a minute). For mould spores the number lies at 0.5 to 1.0 * 10⁴ CFU and for yeast cells at 0.9 to 1.1 * 10⁵ regarding the diameter of the filter cloth.

During the examination of the water, a suction test of 2 minutes provides CFU numbers for both mattresses from 3 to 5 + 10⁴ CFU for moulds and 1 to 2 * 10⁵ CFU for yeast per 2 litres of wash water.

After a thorough cleaning of the mattresses by the air washer DELPHIN (surface about 0.5 m³, processing time 10 minutes) and a subsequent sampling of the same surface under comparable conditions, the results are significantly lower numbers of CFU of moulds and yeasts per 2 litres wash water in suction tests on filter cloth and in water, respectively. In numbers that is 180 or 3600 CFU on filter cloth and 8000 or 4000 CFU in the water.

The results of the measurements clearly show a significant reduction of the number of mould spores and yeast cells in suction samples after a thorough cleaning of the mattress. Therefore, the results also show the aptitude of the air washer to reduce mould spores and yeast cells, which great amounts of can be found in mattresses, partly by the power of ten.

However, with the aid of the described test execution (second measurements), it was possible to attest the reduction of numbers of house dust mites or rather the reduction of mite allergens when the air washer is used to clean mattresses. Not only should the approach to the test be modified here correspondingly but also the quantitative determination.

At this point I want to point out that both test series were designed to look only for mould spores and yeasts, however, not for bacteria. As the tests have shown, the air washer seems to be equally applicable to bacteria. Nonetheless, this would have to be examined in a separate test series, since the measurements and laboratory tests carried out here were selectively examined for moulds and yeasts. This led to an obstraction in the development of bacterias and therefore, no sound statement about them can be made.


CHEMISCH-PHARMAZEUTISCHES
LABORATORIUM ISNY/ALLGÄU

This is a summary of the long-term tests of the DELPHIN DP-2002 by the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Aerosol Research.

The DELPHIN System with its water and ultrafine particle separator (L-Lamella), which operates without any kind of filter, gains more and more acceptance with consumers.

Since we feel we owe it to our clients, we wanted to know precise details. Therefore, we spared neither cost nor effort to have the high hygiene standards of DELPHIN tested. We gave the task of testing DELPHIN to the world-famous and internationally accepted Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Aerosol Research.

The definition of the task was to find out in a long-term test, if germs can form in an appliance and then can get into the room air, when said appliance is being used.

1. Test:

Two DELPHIN appliances were tested together, one had been used in a big household for about 2 years and one was assessed and sent back by the magazine Ökotest.

Table 1: germ count determination with impinger, 30 ml of isotonic NaCI solution

During the 30 minutes measurements, the number of germs in the exhaust air of the household appliance of DELPHIN were 48 % lower and the appliance of Ökotest was 18 % lower than the number of germs in the air of the room.

The result: "The germ counts measured in the exhaust air of the cleaner were not higher than thoses of the room air." (Original text excerpted from the test report)

2. Test:

3 DELPHIN appliances were used for further long-term test. The real household dust was taken from several households from the Hannover region and homogenised prior to the tests in accordance with the tests by Ökotest.

Table 2: Tests with real household dust added with approximately 2 million germs per gramm.

*Sampling shows germ count found in exhaust air.

Approximately 75,000,000 germs were sucked in and 4160 germs were found in the exhaust air during this long-term test. This corresponds to a retention of 99.995 %. In the course of time, an increase in contamination could not be found.

3. Test:

To determine whether and, if so, how many germs were extracted and released from the water bath, approximately 10 million bacterias were added to the water bath per test. The measurements were repeated 3 times each day. (measurement time: 4 times 10 minutes in a row)

Table 3: release of germs from the water bath

*Sampling shows germ count found in exhaust air.

In this long-term test, a total of approximately 55,230,000 bacteria were added to the water and during a suction period of 600 minutes or 1200 m³ suction intake, approximately 3520 bacteria were found in the exhaust air. This corresponds to a retention of 99.994 %.

A sensational and excellent result was determined here for the DELPHIN DP 2002. Over time, no increase of contamination could be found.

The result: "6 germs or rather 6 CFU/m³ exhaust air were found in the liquid here. Here, too, no increase of CFU versus time was found and thus no tendency to germ formation has to be expected." (Original text excerpted from the test report)

Summarising, one can state:

"No germ formation by bacteria was found during the tests. Thus one should assume that no bacteria germ formation will occur when the appliance is used for the purpose intended and in accordance with the operating manual." (Original text excerpted from the test report)

This shows that the open design of the appliance, which has no filter to prevent a desiccation of the appliance, is the right way to go.

The test executed by the Fraunhofer Institute clearly shows that the DELPHIN appliance is precisely the appliance to have when it comes to cleaning a room and cannot be compared with customary vacuum cleaners or other water appliances that retain fine dust via filters.

This test result only applies to the DELPHIN DP 2002 appliance and cannot be transferred to other products.

University of Brescia
Institute for Microbiology

Laboratory for virology
and microbiological tests

General Director: Professor Adolfo Turano

assigned professor: Nino Manca

assigned professor: Arnaldo Caruso

Testing of the air cleaning done by the
DELPHIN DP 2001 system (Abstract)

Institute for Microbiology at the University of Brescia

INTRODUCTION

Microbes can be found everywhere in our atmosphere. They are usually found in our domestic environment and workplace. Therefore, they can represent a source of infection. In our environment, these microorganisms are mainly spread by people and animals; and become airborne either due to skin peeling or droplet transmission. Up to a certain size ( >10-20µm diameter), the microbes cling to microscopically small particles whereas smaller sizes float in the surrounding air. Keeping this information in mind, it is obvious why it is important to have an active air-cleaning system that is able to suck in as much dust as possible and contain the existing microbial load in the air.

The appliance DELPHIN DP 2001 is a system to clean the air that binds the dust in the air with the aid of water. Our goal was to analyse the effectiveness of the appliance regarding the reduction of the microbial load that might be found in the dust in the air.

The DELPHIN was used in the rooms of the institute, in which the day-to-day laboratory work is conducted.

In order to have a more accurate evaluation, the tests for the DELPHIN DP 2001 system were divided into two parts.

Stage one: Checking the appliance and determination of the method

During tests, the following circumstances for said tests are sensible:

• Thorough cleaning of the appliance and the water tank of the DELPHIN with a 5 percent sodium hypochlorite solution for at least 30 minutes.
• As a precaution, the water for the air cleaning was sterilized in an autoclave.
• Regarding the speed with which the air is sucked in, a minimum rotational speed of ½ m³ of air per minute is seen as ideal in terms of sufficient intake of dust and good simultaneous extraction of microbes.
• The air was cleaned in a closed room without any air exchange and also in an open room, which was entered by laboratory staff. In both cases the system has proven effective regarding an increase in microbes in the extracted water after the cleaning process.
• Extraction of a water sample (100 ml) before and after using the appliance.
• Application of suspension on Petri dishes with cultures of blood agar.
• The test for moulds was conducted in a special filtering area with the goal to prove their possible existence in the surrounding air.

The Petri dishes set up for this stage, showed an increase in microbes although mainly gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas), gram-positive cocci (Staphylococci) and moulds (Penicillin, Aspergillus, Dematiaceae) were found.

Stage two: Experiments with the appliance and application of the method

The obtained results of the first stage directed our attention to the application of the methodology that is able to show the effectiveness of the appliance regarding the cleaning of a closed room, not entered by people, and the reduction of the microbial load after its application.

a) 6 Petri dishes with blood agar are set up in a closed room for six hours in order to give the particles in the air a chance to settle.

b) Time 0: 100 ml of water are extracted from the water tank of the appliance and then the DELPHIN is activated for 15 hours in the constantly closed room.

c) Time 15 hours: Switching off of the DELPHIN and extraction of 100 ml of water from the water tank.

d) In order to test the remaining microbial load, another 6 Petri dishes with blood agar are set up for 6 hours after the room has been cleaned by the DELPHIN for 15 hours.

Information on how the bacterial colonies were analysed:

The Petri dishes are incubated at room temperature for 4 days and at 37 centigrade for 48 hours. Afterwards the counting takes place.

Information on how the water was analysed:

- Centrifugation of the extracted sample at 3500 rotations per minute for 15 minutes;
- Extraction of floating particles and dissolve again the sedimented particles with 1 ml of natural saline solution;
- Spread 10 µl on Petri dish with blood agar in order to be able to count;
- Incubation of the Petri dishes at ambient temperature for several days and at 37 centigrade for 24 - 48 hours;
- Reading of the number of increased colonies.

RESULTS:

a) Analysis of the microbial load in the surrounding air via open blood agar cultures and 6 hours of sedimentation of air in a closed room, before the use of DELPHIN: (see diagram no. 2)

    Petri dishes incubated at room temperature:   24 bacterial colonies       6 mould cultures

    Petri dishes incubated at 37 centigrade:        12 bacterial colonies       2 mould cultures

b)  Time 0: Extraction of 100 ml of clean water and activation of DELPHIN (see diagram no. 1)

    Petri dishes incubated at room temperature:       no increase

    Petri dishes incubated at 37 centigrade:             no increase

c) Time 15 hours: Switching off of the DELPHIN and extraction of 100 ml of water with dust exposure (see diagram no. 1)
    
Petri dishes incubated at room temperature:     1950 bacteria/ml        200 mould cultures/ml

    Petri dishes incubated at 37 centigrade:           1775 bacteria/ml        no mould cultures

d) Analysis of the microbial load in the surrounding air via open Petri dishes with blood agar and 6 hours of sedimentation of air in a closed room, after the use of DELPHIN:
 (see diagram no. 2)

    Petri dishes incubated at room temperature:        10 bacterial colonies     4 mould cultures

    Petri dishes incubated at 37 centigrade:               7 bacterial colonies    no mould cultures

Diagram no. 1: Analysis of microbial load in the water depending on the amount of time the DELPHIN was used.

Diagram no. 2: Analysis of microbial load in the surrounding air depending on the amount of time the DELPHIN was used.

CONCLUSION

Clearly the DELPHIN DP 2001 system for air cleaning achieves a great efficiency regarding the reduction of the microbial load in closed rooms. The appliance managed to reduce the bacterial load by 50 – 60 % and the mould load by 40 – 50 % (see diagrams no. 1 and 2). This makes the DELPHIN ideally usable in domestic environments and at the workplace, especially for people, who require a high air quality. Though this is not only applicable to people with a good state of health but also to people with symptoms such as dust or pollen allergies, bronchitis in general or in stages of convalescence. Furthermore, it is advisable to use the appliance in closed rooms, where a lot of people stay and therefore need a constant exchange of air in order to keep the microbial load in the air as small as possible.

It is also advisable to thoroughly clean the appliance, especially the water tank, with a surface-active cleansing agent that is neither ionic nor anionic or to carefully clean the DELPHIN with a diluted sodium hypochlorite solution. On top of that, it is important to change the water after each use of the appliance.

Professor Adolfo Turano

MINISTRY OF HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL INDUSTRY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

THE MOSCOW MEDICAL ACADEMY SETSCHENOW

IN ACCORDANCE WITH
the director of the Russian Research Institute for Medical Technology B. 1. Leonow 21. Februar 1996

CONFIRMED by the project manager for scientific research at the Moscow Medical Academy Setschenow
Professor S. W. Gratschow
21 February 1996

REPORT

ABOUT THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND

EXPERT EVALUATION OF THE AIR CLEANING SYSTEM

"DELPHIN"ABOUT ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN REMOVING MICROORGANISMS

FROM CLOSED OFF ROOMS

Head of the scientific research laboratory for biomedical technology is Dalin M.W.

MOSKAU 1996

INTRODUCTION

In accordance with the request of the customer as well as with the technical assignment (and confirmed by the Russian Scientific Research Institute for Medical Technology), the conduct of the expert evaluation - concerning the effectiveness of the air-cleaning system DELPHIN to remove microorganisms out of the air of closed off rooms - has been planned.

Previous tests at the Scientific Research Institute for Pulmonology (in accordance with the Ministry of Health Care of the Russian Federation) have shown that this system can remove 95 – 96 % of microparticles of the size of 5 micron out of the room air and can suck in 100 % of fungal spores, asbestos fibres, pollen and dust mites, especially house dust mites.

According to data from the chemical-pharmaceutical laboratory in Isny / Allgäu, the amount of colony forming units of moulds and yeasts, accumulated due to bed making, can be reduced by the DELPHIN in a short amount of time to a level beneath the microbial load of outside air.

The tests conducted by the Russian National Medical University and in accordance with the clinical city hospital number 64 have shown that the DELPHIN has significantly reduced the total viable count in the air of the closed off rooms of the emergency department after only 20 minutes run-time. Meaning the amount of colony forming units of Staphylococcus epidermis, determined by Koch’s postulates, was reduced from 12 to 9. Even moulds and yeasts were removed and the amount of colony forming units of gram-negative bacteria was decreased from 2 to 1.

The results of these tests are obviously positive, however, it was impossible to assess with the garnered data, the full scope of the technical parameters of the cleaning and the limit of efficiency of the appliance. In order to expand the application of the appliance, finding an answer to this question is more or less pivotal. In accordance with the above-mentioned, the following tasks were set:

- Tests of the appliance „DELPHIN“ under the following conditions: conduct controlled tests to clean the air when the air is being pollinated by bacteria aerosols in the target concentration;
- determine critical values of microbial load in the air that the appliance „DELPHIN“ can clean effectively;
- determine optimal working times of the appliance.

The set tasks were executed by using spray chambers.

2.1. Tests on the efficiency of the air cleaning at a low level of airborne germs

Since the above-mentioned tests did not allow a determination of a limit of efficiency of the DELPHIN when it comes to the elimination of bacteria, we thought it useful to raise the level of airborne germs in the spray chamber.

Chart 1:

Concentration of microorganisms in the air entering and exiting the appliance during the spraying with a dry biomass

The presented data shows that all microorganisms are removed by the appliance at the set level of efficiency. It was determined that while the appliance cleaned the air, the microbial load in the air of the chamber was reduced significantly and after 10 minutes it reached a level that fell below the sensitivity limit of the indicator.

2.2. Tests on the efficiency of the air cleaning at a high level or airborne germs

Chart 2:

Concentration of microorganisms in the air entering and exiting the appliance

This data shows that even at a high concentration of E. coli, the concentration of microorganisms rapidly reduces while the appliance is cleaning the air.
This makes it possible to determine and assess the limit of efficiency of the appliance. As shown in the chart, this figure increases with the duration of the emission of the microbial load in the air. The retention rate is nearly 99.9 %. Therefore, we can say that the appliance can clean 98 % of the air, even if it has a high microbial load, within 10 minutes, although the level of efficiency rapidly decreases afterwards.

CONCLUSION

The conducted tests show that the appliance DELPHIN is proven to be highly efficient when it comes to eliminating bacteria in the air of a closed off room. It reduces the concentration of microorganisms by 99 % compared to the initial figure. This figure remains even if the appliance emits air with a high germ count.

It is most effect with removing microorganisms such as moulds and coli bacteria, however, a little less effective with removing Staphylococcus epidermis. The high efficiency of the appliance is guaranteed due to constructional features – the separation and absorption of the microorganisms by a liquid absorbent.

We could determine that the efficiency of the air cleaning depends on how long the appliance is used, i.e. the volume of air that is being absorbed and emitted by the appliance. The mentioned level of cleanliness is determined by the speed at which microorganisms accumulate in the absorber.

We determined a limit of contamination, done by the bacteria mass to the absorber, at which no determinable microbes are emitted from the appliance. This limit was at 2.4 x 106 colony forming units of coli bacteria in 1 ml of liquid absorbent. A transgression of this figure leads to a reduction of the efficiency of the air cleaning. The speed at which this limit is reached depends on the duration of uninterrupted run-time and the level of microbial load in the air that is absorbed by the appliance. Therefore, it is possible to use this appliance cyclically whereas the absorber should be exchanged periodically.

It has to be taken into account that when the appliance DELPHIN is used, secondary aerosol gases form and therefore it is prohibited to use it in rooms with different purposes in medical facilities without exchanging the water in the appliance first.

The high efficiency to clean the air even of a high level of airborne germs makes it possible to expand the operating range of the appliance. An expansion towards, e.g., health resorts or factories for microbiological production, where it is pivotal to protect the manufactured product from the contamination with foreign bacterial flora and also to not allow the scattering of microbial load in the air of the working area.

Consummator, the leading scientific staff member Krawzow E.G.

Manager of the company "BRIAR"

Mister 0. Romanow

The Centre for the National Sanitary and Epidemiologic Inspection

121359 Moskau, Marschala Timoschenko Street 23

TeL 141-85-77

Order Nr. Nr. 47-5-131551 from 03.10.96

REPORT

A test of the air cleaning system DELPHIN (Germany) was conducted by the specialists of the National Sanitary and Epidemiologic Inspection at the medical centre of administration for issues of the President of the Russian Federation.

The microbiological parameter for microbial load in closed rooms was the fundamental criterion for the assessment of the efficiency of the air cleaning system, which was garnered during the executed tests.

The tests were conducted in a room measuring 90 cubic metres. The air tests were done with sampler no. 15 on the thick culture medium with a precipitation.

First, the previous parameter of microbial load in the room is estimated but once the appliance is switched on, samples are collected every five minutes for a span of 45 minutes.

At the same time, sampling of the microbial load in the air is done at the exit of DELPHIN’s water filter as well as sampling of the microbial load in the water from filter of the appliance.

The result of the conducted tests is as follows (chart 1):

The microbial load of the room air, depending on how long the air cleaning system DELPHIN was running:

1) total number 2) in % in comparison to initial value

The garnered data shows that after 45 minutes uninterrupted operation of the cleaning system, the microbial load is reduced by 74.5 % when compared to the initial parameter.

During the microbiological test of the air at the exit of the water filter (chart 2), a rise in microorganisms from 10 to 24 per cubic metre was noticed during the first 20 minutes of cleaning the air. However, after another 25 minutes the microbial load stabilised on one level (there are no reliable differences).

Chart 2:

The microbial load of the room air at the exit of the water filter, depending on how long the air cleaning system DELPHIN was running:

For the assessment of the efficiency of the air cleaning system DELPHIN, a bacteriological test of the water from the filter was conducted as well (chart 3).

Chart 3:

The microbial load in the water filter, depending on how long the air cleaning system DELPHIN was running:

The data shown in the charts as well as the parameter for the microbial load in the air, taken from the exit of the water filter, lead to the assumption that the water filter in the air cleaning system can’t absorb any more microbes. It seems to be vital for the efficiency of the air cleaning system DELPHIN that the water is changed after every 20 minutes.

Conclusion:

The microbial load in the air has been reduced by 74.5 %, when compared to the initial parameter, in a span of 45 minutes of having the air cleaning system DELPHIN on.

Practical test in a hotel in Budapest

This test was carried out to find out how the dust development in the hotel area is influenced by the DELPHIN.

Report

Location of sampling: Spirit Hotel Sárvár
No of pages: 3
Date of sampling: 07 Juni 2011. Date of release: 09. Juni 2011.

Dust deposition rate was measured in three hotel rooms (403, 43 and 453) cleaned with conventional methods, and from three hotel rooms (251, 252 and 253) cleaned with Delphin L-separator vacuum cleaner. The dust samples were collected using a Delphin L-separator vacuum cleaner (800 W, 2 m3/s). Pre-weighted filter cloths were placed into the sampling head of the device. A total area of 800×800 millimeters of the carpets and mattresses (head part) was vacuumed for 30 sec.. The dust samples were weighted with a digital balance (resolution 0.00 g) and the resulting data were analyzed with a statistical method (T-test).

Results

Dust deposition on the carpets and mattresses was significantly lower (p=0,0001) in the hotel rooms cleaned with the DELPHIN L-separator device than in those cleaned with conventional methods. A tenfold difference of the average dust load was measured between the rooms cleaned with the conventional methods and the DELPHIN L-separator device.

Fig. 1. Average dust deposition (g) in the hotel rooms cleaned with conventional methods and the DELPHIN L-separator device

Fig. 2. Dust deposition (g) in the mattresses and carpets cleaned with conventional methods and the DELPHIN L-separator device

Conclusions

The results indicate that with the use of the Delphin L-separator device, a low-dust environment can be created in the hotel rooms. Consequently, healthier and cleaner rooms will be at the disposal for the guests.

Budapest, 09. June, 2011.