Abstract
Removal efficiencies of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and its odor with newly developed ETS removal equipment were evaluated. The developed equipment consists of two units: Particulate and VOC Removal Unit (PVRU) and Odor Removal Unit (ORU) connected in series. The 1st unit is PVRU for removing suspended particulate matter (SPM) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) composed of two air filters (HEPA: High Efficiency Particulate Air filter and activate charcoal filter). The 2nd unit is ORU for removing acetaldehyde and ETS odor composed of a wet element using chemical absorbent containing amino acids mixture. First, removal experiment of acetaldehyde in air was carried out. In the experiment, we measured acetaldehyde concentration at inlet of PVRU, and outlet of ORU. Removal efficiency of acetaldehyde by the developed equipment was higher than 90%. Next, removal experiment of ETS and its odor was carried out during tobacco smoke generating. We found that SPM and most of VOC except oxygenated compounds were almost completely removed by PVRU. The removal efficiencies of acetaldehyde and odor by PVRU were 80%, 90% respectively, and the removal efficiency of acetaldehyde was decreased with time. But the removal efficiencies of these components after ORU were 95%, 99% respectively. Acetaldehyde is considered to be chemically absorbed by amino acids in the chemical absorbent, and its absorption capacity of acetaldehyde was at least 70 mg L-1. The removal efficiency was confirmed to be maintained after treatment of tobacco smoke of 400 cigarettes.
