Professor Taeo Kim's Research Team at Kumoh National Institute of Technology Develops High-Performance Catalytic Filter for Removing Formaldehyde from Indoor Air

Published in the Prestigious International Journal "Journal of Hazardous Materials" in the Environmental Field

A research team led by Professor Taeo Kim (Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering) at Kumoh National Institute of Technology (President: Sangho Kim) has developed a high-performance catalytic filter technology that can effectively remove formaldehyde from indoor air at room temperature.

(Left) Professor Kim Taeo (Right) Researcher Park Yeji / Photo by Lee Whan Kim

Formaldehyde, a major indoor air pollutant emitted from building materials, furniture, and adhesives, is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It is known as a key cause of "new house syndrome" and, in particular, can easily reach high concentrations in indoor environments with limited ventilation. Therefore, developing technologies to effectively remove formaldehyde has emerged as an important environmental issue.

The research team developed a new catalytic filter structure by enabling the direct growth of manganese oxide (MnO₂) catalysts on fiber filters using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). On the fiber substrate, PVA acts as a reducing agent that induces the formation of MnO₂ and, at the same time, serves as a binder to enhance adhesion between the catalyst and substrate, thereby improving the stability of the catalyst structure. Thanks to these properties, the catalytic filter can effectively oxidize and remove formaldehyde under indoor environmental conditions.

Experimental results showed that the developed catalytic filter achieved a formaldehyde removal rate of over 97% and exhibited a high CO₂ conversion rate. The filter also maintained stable performance during repeated use and long-term continuous operation. Furthermore, the research clarified that oxygen vacancies and surface-adsorbed oxygen species on the catalyst surface promote the rapid conversion of reaction intermediates, enabling efficient catalytic oxidation reactions even at room temperature.

Professor Taeo Kim stated, "The developed catalytic filter can be applied to indoor air purifiers or ventilation systems and has the potential to be expanded as an effective indoor air purification technology for various environments. I also expect that the meaningful research conducted diligently by Yeji Park will open new possibilities for next-generation catalyst-based air purification materials."

Yeji Park, the first author of the study (who completed her master's degree in Environmental Engineering), played a crucial role in the research by participating in the catalyst synthesis, performance evaluation experiments, and analysis of the catalytic reaction mechanism. In 2024, Yeji Park was selected as a recipient of the 'Presidential Science Scholarship for Graduate Students.'

Researcher Yeji Park said, "It was meaningful to participate in the development of a catalytic technology that can effectively remove formaldehyde, which is harmful to human health in indoor environments. I hope to continue conducting research in the field of environmental catalysis."

This research achievement was published online in the internationally renowned journal in the fields of environmental and chemical engineering, the "Journal of Hazardous Materials" (JCR Top 4%, IF: 11.3), and will also be featured in the April print issue, recognizing the excellence of the research.

The title of the paper is "Redox-driven synthesis of polyester fiber-supported manganese oxide filters for room-temperature catalytic oxidation of indoor formaldehyde." The research was supported by the core project of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials and the Gyeongsangbuk-do RISE Project.

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