THE BEADS: A novel air-sterilizing tech

THE BEADS is developed to potentially prevent some fatal consequences that bio-active species, including those drifting as aerosols, are putting on humankind, especially in a high risk situation where frontline health workers are battling. Bio-active species, such as fungi, moulds, bacteria and viruses drift in the air we breathe in. Some cause allergies, illnesses and deaths.

THE BEADS is an air-sterilization technology that primarily uses special photocatalysts to completely DEGRADE bio-active species into CO2 and H2O. It is a patent-pending technology that is distinctive from the common air-filtering technology.The new technology can be adapted to hospitals, public transportations and other enclosed settings that are densely inhabited.

Scaled globally, the system could alleviate the pressure on medical infrastructures, reduce the replication rate of viral species through lessened exposure, and save lives. 

Prevention and preparedness
Airborne microorganisms can represent major health and economic risks to the human population. Humankind is in constant battles with emerging infectious diseases, which could present health security threats both locally and globally. Before a cure could be developed, preventive measures and preparedness to pandemic are crucial in limiting the spread of the disease.

Bio-active species in air
THE BEADS is developed to potentially prevent some fatal consequences that bio-active species, including those drifting as aerosols, are bringing to humankind. Bio-active species, such as fungi, moulds, bacteria and viruses drift in the air we breathe in. Tiny aerosol viral species such as that of the currently speedily spreading COVID-19 can even stay for 3 hours, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center from Harvard. 

Existing air-cleaning tech limitation
Air-filtering tech applied to ventilation or air-conditioning units usually comprise layers of filtering sheets to trap particles larger than certain dimensions; the problem is that none of such devices can claim to filter viral particles due to their extreme small size. On another hand, UV disinfectant devices either work on high power, or at limited air flow; the problem is system capacity and efficiency.

THE BEADS is developed to potentially prevent some fatal consequences that bio-active species are bringing to humankind. It is a solution that can also contribute to getting communities and frontline health workers prepared for pandemics caused by bio-active species drifting in air.

THE BEADS is a patent-pending air-sterilization technology that primarily uses photocatalysts and a simple light source to DEGRADE bio-active species. The system has a transformative sterilization effect and unparalleled system performance on sterilizing air.

Here is how the sterilization is enabled:

1) The specially treated beads within the system are photocatalysts that maximize the efficiency of the light source, changing light waves into chemical (and thermal) energies;

2) The specially packed beads provide huge surface areas within a small space, where bio-active species are literally attracted to the sterilizing surfaces and get burnt;

3) The system completely degrades bio-active species into CO2 and H2O rather than  trapping them inside the system, enabling the system to have a very long lifespan without renewing its components.

The system could be adapted to existing ventilation and air-conditioning systems. Nonetheless, we see the “killer” applications as localized units at patients’ beds in hospitals and passengers’ seats in airplanes, trains and buses.

Frontline health workers, hospital patients, visitors and public transports’ passengers are our primary target as they are at a rather high-risk setting - densely populated enclosed spaces that are susceptible to the spread of diseases caused by harmful bio-active species in the air. 

Nonetheless, THE BEADS could be further adopted as a global product that benefits everyone and everywhere, as it could mitigate the risk of spreading harmful bio-active species. This technology can be used for sterilizing the air in (i) hospital emergency settings, (ii) enclosed public spaces like public transportation and elevators and (iii) portable air treatment and ventilation systems as a plug-in.

THE BEADS are designed to aid in the prevention of emerging pandemics and health security threats. With the recent series of infectious disease emergencies, it is clear that preventing the spread of diseases at high-risks locations is just as important as easing the pressure at public health facilities. 

Our solution specifically addresses health threats that are posed by bio-active species that could drift in the air that we breathe in.

Our target populations - those using and serving in health facilities and public transportation, are the key “circuit breakers” in aiding the prevention of emerging pandemics and health security threats.

Our innovation is unprecedented in the way air is sterilized. It is an innovation that combines absorption and wetting of the virus cellular wall with alcohol/water vapor, adsorption and photocatalytic by the catalyst, and heating the flowing air to a temperature higher than the bioactive species tolerated environment  to become a compact system. It could offer much higher performance than other filter layering systems or UV disinfectants in cleaning bio-active species in the air.

Existing air-cleaning tech reflects various limitations in their performances. Air-filtering tech applied to ventilation or air-conditioning units usually comprise layers of filtering sheets to trap particles larger than certain dimensions; the problem is that none of such devices could proclaim to filter viral particles due to their extreme small size. On another hand, UV disinfectant devices usually work on high power within a limited volume of air to guarantee efficiency; the problem is system capacity and efficiency.

In the next stage we shall be optimizing the technology in the form of a commercialized product for specific uses.

Both photocatalysis and UV light were separately discovered for over a century and each have been applied widely for decades in the aspect of environmental security regarding the disinfection of (waste/water). However, the ingenious combination of photocatalysis technologies with UV light have, and absorption technology have not been applied as a core technology in air-disinfection products/systems on the market, owing to limited flexibility of certain photocatalytic substances, high costs and system inefficiency on gaseous substances like air. 

The project is utilizing existing technologies in producing new photocatalysts that can effectively harness a simple light source, and subsequently transform light energy into chemical reaction and thermal energy, which eventually degrades bio-active species into CO2 and H2O.

The selection of materials, process of producing photocatalysts, and the sequence of chemical reactions occurring within the system, are meticulously choreographed, tested and developed as THE BEADS. THE BEADS, in short, is a high-performing package of technologies that can aggressively attract, collect and degrade harmful bio-active species in the air we breathe in.

Not only have the utilized technologies been supported by scientific theories, we have been prototyping and have preliminarily conducted lab-tests on the performance of the device. We have recorded very promising results by a 3rd party laboratory. Yet, a parametric study with varying design is needed in our next stage in order to optimize our final product for specific usages.

We expect that our solution will have an impact in preventing the spread of infectious diseases in air-borne conditions and getting communities and frontline workers prepared for the arrival of pandemic. Here is the logical link of our theory of change:

Our primary activities in building alliances with public health institutions and facilities shall facilitate the installation and optimization of our air-sterilization device. The installed systems are to be effective in eliminating harmful bio-active species drifting indoors, including patients’ rooms, public waiting areas and other enclosed chambers. Subsequently, air quality is to be improved substantially - free of harmful bio-active species - thus eliminating the risks of disease infection of frontline health workers and other high-risk actors. Consequently, in the battles with infectious diseases in air-borne conditions, pressure on the public health system and infrastructure could be largely reduced.

The same link is to be applied to other industries of high-risk in spreading diseases in air-borne conditions, such as public transportation (operators and manufacturers for aircrafts, trains, subways, and buses), schools, theatres etc.

All in all, we see that better prevention and preparedness through deployment of our air-sterilization system could reduce casualties and economic losses when a pandemic strikes.

Currently we are seeking to bring our MVP to a clinical setting for extensive study and product optimisation. Therefore the solution is not yet serving any beneficiaries.

We anticipate a growth of beneficiaries in the public health system from 1st to 5th year:

1st year: 1 target hospital, with 1,000 people (medical staff, visitors and patients) a day in the emergency department, which is equivalent to 365,000 people a year.

5th year: 50 target hospital, which is equivalent to 18 million people.

The prevention of diseases in air-borne conditions by the system is also averting the geometric growth of additional infected patients, whose number is yet to be estimated. 

Our impact goal is to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in air-borne conditions and to get communities and frontline workers prepared for pandemics. Ultimately, the air-cleaning technology shall be accessible for not only the public health sector, but also indoor spaces of gathering, including public transports, schools, theatres, etc.

We plan to achieve our goals step by step:

1) Co-designing experiments: We are to build partnership with our primary beneficiaries - the public health sector, in co-designing clinical experiments with our installed system and to address their needs.

2) Co-publishing: We are to publish in journals on the results and lessons learnt from the experiments with the public health practitioners.

3) Co-producing: We are to work together with manufacturers; while we could be making and providing the exclusive treatment formula for our core ingredient, manufacturers across countries could be putting together the different components of the air-sterilization device.

4) Co-distributing: We are to liaise with regional and international agencies, as well as the private sector, to deploy the air-sterilizers and to reach out to various end-users for pandemic preparedness.

1) Market barrier:
In the coming year, our biggest challenge is bringing our technical achievements to the market. In our next stage, we would like to bring in stakeholders from the public health sectors, regionally and globally, including frontline practitioners, in devising comprehensive experiments in validating the performance of our optimized product specific in their setting. 

2) Access to finance:
In the next five years, we foresee that access to finance is the next biggest challenge. The MENA region receives up to 5% from the total investment globally. Being based in Jordan, Middle East, the team is likely to be confronted with barriers in investments and unfavorable conditions in cash flows and operation.

Building partnership would be critical in overcoming both market barriers and access to finance:

1) Connections with the medical sector would lead us to reach the practitioner and end-users in various health facilities.

2) Connections with air-filter and air-conditioning-related industries, including manufacturers, could lead us to private businesses that would potentially benefit from integrating our technology to theirs.

3) Bringing our technology outside of the country and reaching out to global players in the market, including various development agencies and the private sector (public transport, theatre operators etc).

The newly established team is led by Dr. Reyad Shawabkeh and Bara Wahbeh/CTO@ Ba Alf Seen ltd, in addition to 2 part-time members: Mandy Mui and Moutaz Darwesh.

The collaboration of Dr. Reyad Shawabkeh and the micro-enterprise Ba Alf Seen Ltd started in March 2020 during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The core technology is based on Professor Reyald Shawabkeh’s last 20 years research on adsorption and photocatalyst materials, and evolved from the 18 patents filed under his name. With this collaboration between Dr Shawabkeh and the micro-enterprise, the technology is further optimized to become a unique one for the air-sterilization device.

Our team is well-positioned as this is an interdisciplinary collaboration with expertise spanning from the academia, chemical biology, mechatronics, product design and business:

• Dr. Shawabkeh is well-acclaimed professor and the head of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Jordan; he grounded research and previous work largely inspired the evolution of the technology that is uniquely developed in THE BEADS;

• Bara, CTO@Ba Alf Seen, is a chemical and environmental engineering who has 5+ years in innovation and commercialization; he leads the project with his vision in making disruptive changes for social good;

• Mandy Mui, trained in architectural design in Hong Kong, is a product designer in the team; she materializes and systematizes ideas, and transforms concepts into physical products.

• Moutaz Darwish, an mechatronic engineer, brings in his enthusiasm in the optimization of the software involved in THE BEADS; he is currently integrating various controllers into the product development process to facilitate the optimization of the system.

The project is a collaboration between Reyad Shawabkeh and the micro-enterprise Ba Alf Seen Ltd led by Bara Wahbeh. Given the short time of the newly established team’s work, we have not entered other formal partnerships with other entities. Nonetheless we are actively reaching out through our network, for example through the Leaders in Innovation Fellowship in the UK (LIF) as both Dr Shawabkeh and Bara are the fellows.

In working towards achieving our goal in benefitting the global population in preventing and getting prepared for pandemics that are caused by air-borne bio-active species, our business model are devised as short-term and long term for commercialization:

1) Short-term: The project will be first focusing on licensing the technology for small and local manufacturing in smaller quantities in order to serve our targeted hospital partners and other frontline health facilities.

2) Long-term: To scale up the impacts and benefits of the technology, we aim to license the technology to larger scale regional and international manufacturers in production, and to win contracts with national health facilities, and potentially development agencies and public transport operators (airplanes, trains and subways), in reaching to a wider base of end-users.

Our path to financial sustainability is built on 2 pillars: 

1) In-bound marketing: Through participation in open grants and funding programs with clear focus on addressing health issues and pandemics, we are raising our publicity in specific sectors and could in turn create interested in-bound clients.

2) Partnership-building with potential clients: The process of validating the performance and efficiency of THE BEAD’s system would need to involve specific practitioners and expertise on site, such as the hospital utilities departments, or public transport system operators. By an active engagement with the stakeholders in the technology while building the technologies’ credibility, we are as well building alliances with our potential clients.

Solve is an acclaimed platform that potentially attracts a diversity of expertise and stakeholders who share the same interests in creating social impacts. We see that the project would gain better publicity and bring in relevant actors for collaborations.

1)  We would like to reach out to the public health sector in regions outside of Jordan to launch pilots in various health facilities, as well as transportation sectors, especially in high-dense cities.

2) The project would need support in connecting to related industries, such as manufacturers in air-filtering and HVAC (heater, ventilation and air-conditioning) systems.

3) We see tremendous value to partner with international development agencies and academia, in publishing journals on our co-designed experiments and pilots, to accredit and to publicize our findings.

The project was developed during a lock-down in Jordan, among many more countries globally to fight against COVID-19. The team is composed of a small group of young professionals who are eager to INNOVATE in addressing the on-going pandemic, together with a well-acclaimed chemistry professor.

Nonetheless, the innovative air-sterilization system is currently being optimized, and is targeting to partner with a hospital facility to conduct clinical experiments with practitioners for co-publication. We would be honored and grateful if we would be receiving support from The Elevate Prize to continue with our currently self-funded project, which we believe could have a tremendous impact on the global society in preventing and getting prepared for emerging pandemics that are caused by air-borne diseases.

Yes, we believe our approach can serve humanity and attract collaboration with several interested parties.