KIST’s Dae-young Lee Wins Jiseok Young Award for Developing High-Performance Polymer Dehumidifier
Dr. Dae-young Lee, Director at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), was awarded the Jiseok Young Award by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) in recognition of his invention of a polymer dehumidifier with 4–5 times the moisture absorption capacity of conventional desiccant materials.
Since 1992, KIPO has been presenting the Patent Technology Awards to recognize inventors’ contributions and promote a nationwide culture of innovation. On the 19th, KIPO announced the recipients of the 2014 First Half Patent Technology Awards, including nine patents in the patent and utility model categories and one in the design category. Dr. Lee’s invention, titled “Dehumidifiers, Dehumidifying Elements, and Methods for Manufacturing Them,” received the Jiseok Young Award.
The patented polymer dehumidifier consists of a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) with a first component exhibiting electrostatic repulsion and a second hydrophilic component, combined with moisture-absorbing salts. When moisture absorption produces a concentrated brine, the hydrophilic second component absorbs the solution; when the concentration is low, the electrostatically repulsive first component absorbs moisture. This dual mechanism enables high-capacity moisture absorption without leakage, producing a solid-state, highly effective dehumidifier.
Compared to conventional inorganic desiccants like silica gel and zeolite, Dr. Lee’s polymer desiccant achieves 4–5 times higher dehumidification performance. It also demonstrates excellent repeatable performance over 100,000 cycles, and its electrolytic polymer structure provides 99.9% antimicrobial activity against common bacteria. Additionally, its electrostatic absorption acts on all polar molecules, enabling the material to eliminate odors and harmful gases such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde. Its polymer composition allows complex shaping and mass production with ease.
Currently, KIST has signed licensing agreements with Deukyoung Co., Ltd. for production of dishwasher drying modules using the polymer dehumidifier and with Kiturami Co., Ltd. for nine related patents in dehumidifying cooling systems. Deukyoung has supplied annual production worth KRW 200 million to domestic electronics manufacturer S Electronics since 2013, with sales expected to rise alongside expanded production. Polymer-based dehumidifying rotors have already generated KRW 100 million in sample sales, and with the rollout of dehumidifying cooling systems in 2014, annual sales are projected to grow to tens of millions by 2017.
The family of related patents includes:
Dr. Lee’s innovation is expected to redefine dehumidification technology for appliances and climate-control systems, combining superior efficiency, antimicrobial performance, and industrial scalability.
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