INDOOR AIR PURIFICATION AND MONITORING SYSTEMS

Ethera provides in situ indoor air purification and monitoring systems that offer greater sensitivity and selectivity at costs lower than competing systems.

Technology

Ethera, founded in March 2010, has developed an air purification and monitoring system that uses nanoporous materials whose pores have been functionalized to react with common indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde, trichloramine, and benzene derivatives. The concentration of a given pollutant is indicated by the color of the nanoporous materials; these materials are also capable of filtering the air to remove certain pollutants.
Because the concentration measurements are made in situ rather than at a laboratory, Ethera’s system can cut costs considerably while offering the same level of sensitivity. Its system can detect pollutants at a μg/m3 level in line with the latest indoor air quality monitoring standards for chronic exposure.
With operations at Grenoble and Saclay, Ethera holds licenses to patents owned by the CEA and CNRS—with which it has set up a joint laboratory. Ethera is currently working with Leti to improve its reading systems and develop methods for measuring new gases. The company’s main market is France, where the government has passed strict indoor air quality regulations.