Steel Jupiter has been issued with a device determination from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the company's unique and innovative Zinnia Technology-Coated MERV 8 Air Filter.
The EPA's determination confirms that the Zinnia-coated filter operates through dual-action aerosol trapping mechanisms under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
With the regulatory path now established, Steel Jupiter can proceed with its go-to-market plan, which includes performance testing multiple filter types across various real-world operational and environmental factors in simulated and actual settings, working with leading indoor air experts.
Steel Jupiter anticipates completing this final validation testing over the next few months.
Initial independent laboratory-scale testing at leading research organizations demonstrates that the Zinnia coating, when applied to standard air filters, has the potential to trap up to 99.9%* of airborne viruses, utilizing its water-based aerosol attracting properties.
Furthermore, the coating does not impede filter airflow, leading to no increase in energy usage, thereby significantly enhancing virus-trapping effectiveness in a sustainable manner.
Founder and CEO of Steel Jupiter, Carlos Tellez, said the company is in the final steps of bringing filters coating with Zinnia to market.
“We are aiming to make enhanced airborne filtration technology accessible to all people in an energy-efficient and sustainable manner,” Tellez said.
Founded in 2021, Steel Jupiter is a US based manufacturer focused on developing and deploying the patented Zinnia coating technology (under license from FXI Inc, UK), and in collaboration with its inventor, Professor Andrew Barron.
Zinnia has proved effective in enhancing the trapping of airborne viruses when applied to air filtration material that is used in various settings, including homes, schools, office buildings, and industrial facilities. Airborne viruses are spread indoors by water-based aerosols (e.g., via exhalation), which Zinnia effectively attracts.
* Efficacy testing performed using aerosolized bacteriophage Phi X, a surrogate for common enveloped viruses such as Sars-Cov-2, influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and others, demonstrated up to 99.9% removal of viruses in a top-ranking university research laboratory.