Abstract

We are developing green technologies that benefit sustainable environment, which will enable people and the environment to prosper together. The Particle Technology Laboratory (PTL) has developed many instruments and samplers to perform atmospheric measurements, which helped to establish the U.S. PM2.5 standard. The major PM2.5 sources in large urban cities have been identified to come from coal burning, vehicle emissions and steel/cement plants. Filtration is the principal means to control the PM2.5 pollutants.

The Center for Filtration Research (CFR) at the University of Minnesota, collaborating with 20 leading international filtration companies, was established to find filtration solutions to mitigate PM2.5 and other environmental pollutants. CFR investigators perform fundamental and applied research on air, gas and liquid filtration. A disruptive innovation, namely, the Solar-Assisted Large-Scale Cleaning System (SALSCS), is developed to mitigate PM2.5 pollutants in urban air. The second generation SALSCS is developed to reduce not only the PM2.5 but also CO2 in the atmosphere.

An integrative and collaborative approach, among academia, governments, and industries, can effectively manage and create a sustainable global environment.

Speaker Bio

Professor David Y. H. Pui

Member of U.S. National Academy of Engineering;
Regents Professor and LM Fingerson/TSI Inc. Chair in Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, U.S.A.

Professor David Y. H. Pui is a Regents Professor and LM Fingerson/TSI Inc. Chair in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He is a Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the Director of the world-renowned Particle Technology Laboratory at the University of Minnesota. He is also the Director of the Center for Filtration Research (CFR) consisting of 20 leading international filtration manufacturers and end users. Professor Pui has a broad range of research experience in aerosol and nanoparticle engineering and filtration technology and has over 300 journal papers and 40 patents. He has developed several widely used commercial aerosol instruments for PM2.5 measurements. His recent interest involves developing green technologies for mitigating vehicle emissions, and for urban air cleaning using the Solar Assisted Large Scale Cleaning System (SALSCS). Professor Pui has received many awards, including the Max Planck Research Award (1993), the Humboldt Research Award for Senior U.S. Scientists (2000), the Fuchs Memorial Award (2010) — the highest disciplinary award conferred jointly by the American, German and Japanese Aerosol Associations. He served as President of the American Association for Aerosol Research (2000–2001), and President of the International Aerosol Research Assembly (2006–2010) consisting of 16 member associations from around the world.

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