Aeris to market indoor biofilm technology

'Environmental biotechnology' usually conveys a mental image of vats of bacteria busily working on soil remediation. But the issue of indoor air quality is fast becoming an important area of focus in the life sciences arena, according to Sydney-based company Aeris Technologies.

Aeris, which recently spun-off from its parent company Novapharm Research, will commercialise its Aeris-Guard, a new proprietary bioactive films and water treatment system, which is applied to a building's air conditioning infrastructure to improve the quality of indoor conditioned air.

Founding chairman of Aeris and a Director of Novapharm, Maurie Stang, said the potentially adverse health implications of conditioned air were of increasing concern to environmental and health authorities, the property sector, corporations and employee groups globally.

"When organic matter dies, it breaks down into very small particles," Stang explained. "We call it the bio-burden.

"There is a substantial amount of medical literature that says the idea is to minimise the level of bio-burden in the air."

Aeris-Guard biofilms work by reducing the build-up of microorganisms at the air-handling source and in the condenser water system and cooling towers. Applying the films to filters, the company said, can manage fungal colonisation. Another benefit is reduced energy consumption.

Stang said Aeris had worked for "a considerable time" on developing commercial applications for the technology.

"We started a small research project in water treatment, which led to the constellation of issues that are in modern buildings," he said. "We eventually came up with high-tech solutions for water systems."

Aeris Technologies has entered into an agreement with InfoBank International Limited (ASX:IBI) to complete a listing onto the ASX Official List, subject to shareholder approval. This will be effected through an off-market take-over of

Aeris Technologies by InfoBank for a purchase price of up to $4.8 million. InfoBank will change its name to Aeris Technologies.

As a listed company, Aeris Technologies will focus not only on Australia, but will also tackle international markets.

"Aeris aims to become the reference standard for healthy buildings," Stang said.