(1) TOKYO, May 12, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. (MHI Thermal Systems), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has confirmed that the air purification technology it has developed is effective for removal and inactivation of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This technology suppresses pollen and other allergens collected in the filter utilizing the power of enzymes and urea. MHI Thermal Systems had previously verified that a liquid enzyme-urea formulation had the capability to remove and inactivate SARS-CoV-2 (announced in February this year) and has now completed effectiveness verification with a test air filter. A demonstration test(1) for this technology was conducted by Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Center (Q-TEC). Specifically, filtering media in MHI Thermal Systems' air purification filters was inoculated with a viral fluid containing SARS-CoV-2, and left to rest in an incubator at 35degC for one hour. The stirred material was then collected, and the viral titer determined through plaque assay(2) (plaque-forming units (PFU)). Compared to the control sample of viral fluid containing SARS-CoV-2 (left for one hour), the rate of inactivation for the filtering media in the air purification filter was 99.998%, confirming that in one hour of reaction time, the SARS-CoV-2 had been rendered nearly completely inactive.