ABIOS®

ABIOS® is a machine designed and patented by RGI, developed and engineered in the current version through several research and development projects. ABIOS® allows preventing damages to the artworks due to the proliferation of bacteria, fungi and microorganisms in general.

ABIOS® draws ambient air, sterilizes it and returns it to the environment completely inert.

In fact, the deterioration of Cultural Heritage is mainly caused by insects, fungi, molds and bacteria which produce enormous and irreversible damages to the art collections preserved in public and private Museums, Archives and Libraries.

Conservation Institutes are particularly vulnerable to these kinds of danger, because of the “appetizing” preserved objects. It can be said that, generally, each storage location shows signs of partial or extensive pest infestations. Unfortunately, these may recur over and over again over time; this is mainly due to the continuous activity of the parasites responsible of the degradation: insects, fungi, molds and bacteria.

Each storage location will be healthier and, under certain conditions, the presence of bacteria and microorganisms in the air will be completely eliminated because of the ABIOS®. However, this result is not only useful for artworks but its benefits can be also extended to human health due to the technology developed by RGI.

The ABIOS® Project and its results can be found on CORDIS Portal of European Union.

 

HISTORY OF ABIOS®

The new VELOXY® methodology was developed by RGI and several European research institutes through the EUROPEAN PROJECT SAVE ART (1998 – 2000). This methodology is now successfully applied to museums, archives, public and private libraries in order to eliminate insect pests which are present in artworks, preserved in Conservation Institutes.

As demonstrated in the European Project DISIO to which RGI contributed, the anoxic atmosphere is able to inhibit the vegetative phase of microorganisms, such as molds and fungi, but cannot eliminate them completely. Moreover, the artworks usually remain in anoxic atmosphere for minimum 22 days, which is the required time for the disinfestations and consequently, the prevention is not guarantee as the artworks will be replaced in contaminated environments.

As result, the problem of prevention of artworks in storage places was still unsolved.

The innovative ABIOS^® (Aerosol BIological Sterilizer) was then developed by an European research project, developed from 2005 to 2007, that involved the University of Rome – Department of Phytopathology, NILU Institute (Norway), Mycoteam (Norway), AMOS (Belgium) and the National Museum in Krakow (Poland).

Significant and crucial innovations were integrated as consequence of some most recent research and development activities.

 

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

The ABIOS^® is based on the application of short wavelength UV radiations that allow to eliminate microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, spores, etc.) suspended in the air as bio-aerosol. UV irradiation on the surrounding environment is inhibited by the particular design of the ABIOS^® and the development of its fluid dynamics geometry.

When the atmospheric air is affected by UV radiation, part of the oxygen (O₂) is transformed into ozone (O₃) that is potentially very harmful to humans. The ABIOS^® avoids, in the first instance, the formation of ozone through optical filters that are opaque to the wavelengths responsible for the ozone generation. However, it was noticed that small amounts of ozone was still generated despite the use of the optical filters.

As a result, a particular innovative catalyst filter were developed that allows the complete removal of residual traces of Ozone, converting them into Oxygen and consequently the ABIOS^® became one of the best products on the market and it could be patented.

Results of scientific tests, which were carried out in a laboratory, showed that the ozone concentration had been decreasing to lower values than those present in the laboratory before the application of ABIOS^®!!

It implies that the ABIOS^® can be used in each environment frequented by people, protecting not only artworks but also the people themselves.

During the design work, carried out in the RGI laboratories, a special attention was given to the engineering aspects of the air flow inside the ABIOS^® for both minimizing as much as possible pressure drops and noise and maximizing catalytic effects and exposure time of the air to UV rays.

 

RESULT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

The aim of the ABIOS® research was to obtain a preventing method in order to prevent the spread of microorganisms in conservation places and immediately it was highlighted the real dangerousness of chemicals that may have been used in storage environments.

It must be thought about what happens when chemicals are used in the air or on surfaces: the use of these methods need the absence of people. Moreover, these substances are absorbed by treated objects and, as a result they are released in exhibitions and storage environments that are usually frequented by people.

Therefore, research was focused on methods that do not use chemicals and the solution was found through the design of an innovative apparatus, the ABIOS®.

The results of tests, performed during the Project, provided data describing the exciting potential of the machine; in particular the results of the tests, carried out at the Laboratory of Microbiology of the University “La Sapienza” in Rome, showed a decrease of 99.98% of microbial activity in 12 hours, in an experimental 40 cubic meters room.

The picture shows some samples collected in an experimental 40 cubic meter room that had been artificially contaminated: the first was collected before installing the ABIOS®, the second after 6 hours of its activation and the third after 12 hours.

The data obtained provided results that were even better than those expected; in fact it was found that the benefits of the sterilization involve also the whole range of microbes and bacteria which are harmful to humans. Moreover these data confirm that the ABIOS® promotes the well-being of people who work, visit or live in environments where the air is sterilized by the machine. It must be underlined that bio-aerosol can cause allergies, asthma and respiratory diseases.

ABIOS® FEATURES

There are several aspects that characterize the ABIOS® and make it an unique product:

• The enormous capacity of prevention against damages on Cultural Heritage, even in non ideal climatic and environmental conditions, eliminating the presence of infectious agents such as mold, fungi, bacteria, and any biological agent carried by the dust suspended in the air (particulate);
• The protection of human health and storage places, as the ABIOS® can operate in close contact with people due to its technical characteristics;
• The continuous functioning ensures the sterilization of environments that are up to 200 cubic meters (standard version);
• Adjustable rotation speed of the fans, depending on use;
• Simple and immediate installation because of reduced weight and dimensions;
• Very simple maintenance;
• Electronic controls of the ABIOS® functionality;
• Easy remote control due to the remote control and indicator LEDs.

 

TECHNICAL DATA

 

Dimensions	A = 74  cm ; B= 28 cm ; C = 11 cm ; D = 18 cm
Weight	7.4 Kg. Including lamps
Chassis	Stainless Steel
Air Flow Rate	100 - 220 m3/hour
Noisiness	20 dBA – 35 dBA
UV Lamps Life	8.000 hours
Positioning	On the wall
Power Consumption	55 Watt
Automatic Indicators	LED ON/Standby; air flow regulation LED; exhaustion lamps LED; damaged lamps   LED; cleaning filter LED
Remote Control	On/Off; +/- Air flow regulation

 

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