Air filters comprising metal-containing polymeric sorbents

Abstract

An air filter including a filter support that supports porous, polymeric sorbent particles that comprise a divalent metal impregnated therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air filter comprising a filter support that supports sorbent particles, wherein at least some of the sorbent particles are porous and comprise a polymeric material comprising:
 a) a polymer comprising
 i) 15 to 65 weight percent of a first monomeric unit that is of Formula (I), Formula (II), or a mixture thereof; 
   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           ii) 30 to 85 weight percent of a second monomeric unit that is of Formula (III); and 
         
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           iii) 0 to 40 weight percent (or 5 to 40 weight percent) of a third monomeric unit that is of Formula (IV) 
         
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein R 1  is hydrogen or alkyl; and 
         
         b) a divalent metal incorporated into the polymeric material in an amount equal to at least 1.5 mmoles per gram of the polymeric material. 
       
     
     
         2 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter support comprises a substrate with at least one major surface with at least some of the porous polymeric sorbent particles disposed thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The air filter of  claim 2  wherein the porous polymeric sorbent particles are present substantially as a monolayer on the major surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter support comprises a porous, air-permeable material with porous polymeric sorbent particles disposed on a major surface thereof and/or with porous polymeric sorbent particles disposed within the interior of the material at least in a location proximate the major surface of the material. 
     
     
         5 . The air filter of  claim 4  wherein porous polymeric sorbent particles are disposed throughout the interior of the porous, air-permeable material. 
     
     
         6 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the air filter consists essentially of the filter support with the porous polymeric sorbent particles supported thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter support exhibits a major plane and exhibits a thickness of less than about 3 mm and is configured to allow airflow through the filter support at least in a direction at least generally perpendicular to the major plane of the filter support. 
     
     
         8 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter support comprises a netting with a major surface with at least some porous polymeric sorbent particles adhesively attached thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter support comprises a fibrous web that exhibits an interior and wherein the porous polymeric sorbent particles are disposed within at least portions of the interior of the web. 
     
     
         10 . The air filter of  claim 9  wherein the porous polymeric sorbent particles are disposed throughout an interior of the fibrous web. 
     
     
         11 . The air filter of  claim 9  wherein the web is a nonwoven fibrous web. 
     
     
         12 . The air filter of  claim 11  wherein the nonwoven fibrous web is a meltblown web. 
     
     
         13 . The air filter of  claim 9  wherein at least some fibers of the fibrous web are each bonded to at least one porous polymeric sorbent particle. 
     
     
         14 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter support is one layer of a multilayer, air-permeable assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The air filter of  claim 14  wherein the multilayer air-permeable assembly includes at least one layer that is not the same layer as the filter support and that comprises electret moities. 
     
     
         16 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter support is pleated. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly comprising an air-handling apparatus with the air filter of  claim 1  installed in an air filter receptacle thereof, wherein the air-handling apparatus is chosen from the group consisting of a forced air heating unit, a forced air cooling unit, a forced-air heating/cooling unit, a room air purifier, and a cabin air filtration unit for a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter support comprises a honeycomb with through-apertures within which sorbent particles are disposed. 
     
     
         19 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter support provides a layer of a filtering face-piece respirator. 
     
     
         20 . The air filter of  claim 19  wherein the filtering face-piece respirator is chosen from the group consisting of flat-fold respirators and molded respirators. 
     
     
         21 . The air filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter support comprises a container with an interior within which porous polymeric sorbent particles are disposed, and with at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet. 
     
     
         22 . The air filter of  claim 21  wherein the filter support comprises a filter cartridge. 
     
     
         23 . An assembly comprising a personal protection device with the filter cartridge of  claim 22  installed therein, wherein the personal protection device is chosen from the group consisting of half-face negative-pressure respirators, full-face negative-pressure respirators, escape hoods, and powered air-purifying respirators.