Maintaining a healthy environment for your customers and employees is essential for any business. That is why it is crucial to choose the best commercial air purifiers technology for your specific space. Each type of technology has its benefits and drawbacks, so it is essential to understand how it works before deciding. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of commercial air purifier technologies:

• UV Air Purification systems
• Ozone Generators
• Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) purification technology
• Bipolar Ionization
• Dry Hydrogen Peroxide Purification systems
• Foggers
• Air filtration systems
• ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) Technology

We will go over how they each work and provide tips on choosing the right technology for your business!

 

How does UV technology work

UV technology uses ultraviolet light to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. UV is a safe and effective way to purify the air in your industrial space. However, UV technology does not remove particles from the air, so it is ineffective at reducing mold or bacteria and odors. Once the UV starts to get dusty, which can happen quickly, it will lose efficiency and significantly impact the light bulb’s irradiation. In addition, the dust covering the UV bulb will cause it to be less effective in sanitizing. Shadowing is a common issue with UV technology. Distance and exposure time to the light is required to be effective. They use a short wave of ultraviolet light, which reacts with those pathogens and kills them. To learn more about UV technology, please watch the video below!

 

 

How does an ozone generator work?

Ozone generators create ozone, a gas that creates three oxygen atoms. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer that can kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms in the air and surfaces. It also breaks down odors and smoke particles. However, at high-levels it is not safe to use when people are present in the room, and after a few minutes, the ozone dissipates, and you have to keep reintroducing it. So this is most commonly used as a shock treatment. Click the video below to learn more about Ozone Generators!

 

How does Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) technology work?

PCO technology uses oxidation to get rid of organic contaminants in your industrial facilities’ air quality. Although some claim they do surface sanitation, they only produce hydroxyl radicals & superoxide ions that exhaust from the unit. As a result These do NOT reach very far to destroy pathogens, including viruses. It is similar to the NASA air purifier. Watch the videos below to learn more about NASA air purification and PCO purifiers!

 

How does bipolar ionization work?

Bipolar ionization produces negative and positive ions that attach to particles in the air. Therefore, these ions cause the particles to clump together, making them easier to filter out of the air. Bipolar ionization effectively reduces allergens, removes smoke and odors, and breaks down harmful chemicals. However, it is not as effective at killing mold and viruses in a short amount of time. That is because negative and positive ions usually have a very short half-life. Moreover, we have seen tests with these in the real world, and in most cases, they do not reach all the air and surfaces. So it is crucial to size these correctly and purchase multiple units for a small standard industrial space.

 

How does Dry Hydrogen Peroxide work?

Dry hydrogen peroxide systems release a mist of hydrogen peroxide into the air. Therefore, the hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water, purifying the air and killing mold, viruses, and other microorganisms. Dry hydrogen peroxide systems are safe for humans and animals, and they are effective at reducing mold, bacteria, and odors and breaking down harmful chemicals. However, it is ineffective in sanitizing surfaces at long distances as the units currently on the market only produce very low hydrogen peroxide levels.

 

How do foggers work?

Foggers release chemicals into the air that attach to contaminants. The fogged particles fall onto exposed surfaces and objects from the air. Foggers effectively reduce viruses, mold, germs, and allergens. However, that chemical sprayed into the environment dissipates after a few hours, and if you are using in a cold store or warehouse, it is at high risk of perishables being subject to cross-contamination again. If the facility is an organic facility, there is a high chance of risk to the organic labeling.

 

How do air filtration systems work?

Air filtration systems remove particles from the air using filters. The filters are paper, cloth, or other materials. Air filtration systems effectively reduce mold, bacteria, and odors. However, they are not as effective at killing bacteria and viruses. In addition, these air filtrations collect pathogens, and when bacteria gets collected in a filter, it is still active, and bacteria can multiply on the filter. So be careful when replacing these filters!

 

How Does ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) work?

ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) kills pathogens and odor as it passes through the air purifier. In addition, it sanitizes the air that comes out of the purifier, enters the environment, and continues to sanitize all surfaces it contacts. Here is the 2 stage process:

Phase 1- Primary Air Cleaning

Placed within your room’s airflow, air from the environment containing microorganisms enters the purifier’s internal chamber. Therefore, the reaction chamber creates non-thermal plasma and generates ROS. ROS is comprised of 5 short-lived, highly Reactive Oxygen Species:

• Atomic oxygen O(3P)
• Singlet oxygen ₁O₂
• Hydroxyl radical .OH
• Superoxide O_2-
• Peroxynitrite ONOO-

These break down carbon-to-carbon bonds that sanitize the air and destroy all bacteria, molds, viruses, and other pathogens as they pass through the reaction chamber.

Phase 2- Secondary Surface & Air Cleaning

Provides Surface sanitation and continued Air sanitation. The purified air now diffused into the environment contains longer lived Reactive Oxygen Species:

• Gas-phased H₂O₂ (GpHP) or dry hydrogen peroxide
• Low concentration levels of O₃ ozone

 

These combine and create Hydrogen Trioxide (H₂O₃) an Active Antimicrobial formed through the peroxone process. This H₂O₃ is very effective at sanitizing the surfaces and air 24/7.

 

ROS with H₂O₃ further sanitizes the room air and surfaces that are a long-distance from the purifier. This commercial air purifier technology is the only one that can provide odor control, long-distance surface treatment, and purify the air all at once. Amazing right? To learn more, watch this video below!

 

Best Commercial Air Purifiers Checklist For Schools And Classrooms

Now that we have gone over how each technology works. Let us talk about how to choose the right one for your business!

When choosing the best commercial air purifiers technology for your business, you should consider the following factors:

• The size of your space
• The type of contaminants you need to remove
• Treat all surfaces with the purifier. (not just near the purifier, but all surfaces)
• Require low electricity usage
• Monitor the levels of the unit’s production 24/7
• Have a sanitizer created and output from the purifier itself, or else the air will only be purifying.
• Organic and no-chemicals consumed.
• Be safe while people are present
• Offer manual adjustments to the unit’s power

If you have ample commercial space, you will need a powerful commercial air & surface purifier that covers a significant amount of square footage. In addition, if you are trying to remove pathogens, allergens, smoke, or odors, you will need a technology that can remove these contaminants 24/7 safely. Furthermore, if you want a device that can sanitize all surfaces, you may want to consider ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) technology.

No matter your needs, commercial air purifier technology can help you create a healthier environment for your business!

 

While many types of air purification technology are on the market, ROS is our recommended method for purifying the air and sanitizing surfaces 24/7. It is very effective at killing viruses and other pathogens plus odor. As a result, this would be the best commercial air purifiers. Contact a specialist today if you are interested in learning more about how ROS technology and AirROS industrial air and surface purification systems can benefit your business or commercial space.