SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Milliken Chemical has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its silver-based antimicrobial product, Antimicrobial AlphaSan®, for use in HVAC units and related materials.

According to Milliken, Antimicrobial AlphaSan inhibits the growth of bacteria and mold, and now has the necessary regulatory approvals to allow its use in resins, fibers, and plastic articles for applications such as air handlers, coils, fins, insulation, rigid or flexible ducts, filters, heat exchangers, and air purifiers. It can also be incorporated into articles used in the assembly of HVAC systems, such as gaskets, fixtures, sealants, adhesives, reinforcing materials, and parts. The company also said that the antimicrobial agent is already used extensively in a variety of applications, including food contact and drinking water contact applications, textiles, and medical devices.

Antimicrobial AlphaSan’s base is silver. According to Milliken Chemical, when incorporated into resins, silver has been shown to control microbial growth and bio-film formation on surfaces without significant migration from the plastic.