When Pavel Stančík, Head of Service and Installations at Linde Gas CZ, won the award in the “Innovation” category at the international Linde RME Awards in 2018, he sensed that he had set in motion a major breakthrough in the environmental approach and in the perception of corporate responsibility for protecting the environment — a benchmark that Linde Gas has now newly established for the world.

Through its visionary approach, Linde Gas ČR has set an entirely new direction and standard for the world, representing a path of responsible corporate conduct towards the environment and the planet.

The nano-coating application project captured the attention of all the judges and evaluators of the Linde RME Awards as a potential means of protecting liquid storage tanks, offering the company potential savings on their subsequent maintenance costs, as well as a gentler and more responsible approach to the environment.

Thanks to their tremendous efficiency, however, the applied nano-coatings at Linde Gas today not only keep the liquid storage tanks clean, enhance the company’s image and protect the environment, but actually purify the air and remove from it the harmful substances that we all breathe every day.

The applied FN nano technology has also been tested and is today the only one in the Czech Republic and Europe to be certified by the Czech Society for Applied Photocatalysis (ČSAF) for:

• Self-cleaning of the surface
• Antimicrobial function
• Air-purification function removing NOx and VOCs.

The efficiency of the tested FN nanotechnology was certified by the Czech Society for Applied Photocatalysis, which is the only body in Europe with a certification programme that protects the customer and objectively assesses the practical usability of photocatalytic products on the basis of international ISO standards. Under this programme, the technology was awarded the final rating of “EXCELLENT”

In 2020, Linde Gas and Nano4people succeeded in reaching their first major milestone and protected a tank surface area of 10,000 m² in the Czech Republic with this self-cleaning nanotechnology.

Every 1 m² treated with this unique Czech technology can decontaminate over 3 million cubic metres of air per year.

Thanks to the application of this technology to its equipment, Linde today purifies more than 82.190 million cubic metres of air per day, according to testing under the international standard ISO 22197-1.

This enormous self-cleaning surface thus “works” as the largest nano AIR PURIFIER in the Czech Republic and Europe today. Over the course of a year it can remove a vast amount of pollutants and emissions from the air. In a location such as the Ostrava region, for example, it decontaminates per year:

• the same amount of air that 2,739,330 people consume by breathing over an entire year.
• a similar amount of air to that purified by 2,001 mature trees with a crown diameter of 8.2 m, or
• a similar amount of air to that which would be purified by planting 12,500 new small trees with a crown diameter of 1.5 m.
• takové množství exhalátů NOx, které ročně vyprodukuje do ovzduší přibližně 335 os. vozidel  s dieselovým motorem (emisní normy Euro 5),
• takové množství exhalátů NOx, které ročně vyprodukuje do ovzduší přibližně 1005 os. vozidel s benzinovým motorem (emisní normy Euro 5)

Every day, Linde Gas and Nano4people thus actively contribute through their approach to protecting the environment and to the global fight against air pollution — and not only in the Czech Republic.

At present, the technology is already used by Linde Slovakia, and Linde branches in other European countries have recently expressed interest in it as well. There is also interest from the Asia & Pacific region and from Canada.

Through its applications, Linde Gas is thus gradually building nano air purifiers not only for Europe but for the whole world.

In closing, the words of the CEO of Linde Czech Republic & Slovakia, Mr Petr Partsch:

“Introducing innovation is a characteristic trait of Linde. We strive to see one step ahead, which is why projects like this always get the green light at our company.”

Linde Gas

Linde Gas is a globally renowned company supplying industrial gases to the market, such as Oxygen, Nitrogen, Argon, Acetylene, CO₂, medical gases and special gas mixtures, including high-purity and calibration gases. It is the largest producer and supplier of technical gases not only in the Czech Republic but, as part of the Linde plc group, also the world’s largest leader in the field of technical gases. It has operated on the Czech market for 30 years and employs more than 500 people. Today, the owner of the largest nano air purifier in the Czech Republic and Europe.

Nano4people

Nano4people is an innovative company engaged in and contributing to the development and application of photocatalytic coatings which, with the help of nanotechnology and light, are able to create a self-cleaning surface, eliminate viruses, bacteria, mould and odours, and even purify the air. Working with partners from among the leading Czech scientists, it collaborates intensively on further modifications of photocatalytic products. It seeks out and discovers new possibilities for their further use. It carries out specific applications according to the given specifics and the company’s requirements for a clean and healthy environment. Holder of a special award for the social benefit of innovation. In 2015, recognised as Visionary of the Year, for its technological contribution in the field of protecting the environment and the health of the population, air and atmosphere purification, and the protection of property and cultural and historical monuments.