HEPA air purifiers have been on the
market for a while, but there have also been some recent advances made in air
purification technologies as of late. Many air purifier manufacturers are now utilizing
Photo Catalytic Oxidation (PCO) technology as a way of removing toxins from the
air. This air purification method may be the most advanced one yet, and some
leading air purifier manufacturers are beginning to add PCO air cleaners to
their product lines.
For years, PCO has been FDA approved
for reducing bacteria in meat processing plants, and it is even used to cleanse
pesticides from the fruits and vegetables we eat. Essentially, PCO filtration
can be summed up as such: An intense light is reflected onto a metal surface
(Catalyst material) which in turn oxidizes toxins. In chemistry, photo
catalysis is defined as the acceleration of a photoreaction in the presence of
a catalyst, and an example of this would be the oxidation of organic
contaminants such as bacteria and mold using magnetic particles coated with
titanium dioxide nanoparticles, and agitated using a magnetic field that is
exposed to UV light. Therefore, this type of purification technology converts
harmful particulates and toxic gases into safer compounds such as carbon
dioxide and water.
PCO uses broad-spectrum UV light (254nm)
which reacts with a thin film of titanium dioxide, which, in the presence of
water, creates hydroxyl radicals (OH-) and super-oxide ions that
"burn" VOCs and microorganisms adsorbed on the catalyst's surface.
With that in mind, many consumers may mistake UV air purification with PCO
technology, and rightfully so. However, while both types of technology are
similar in that they harness the oxidation properties of ultraviolet light, PCO
purification systems utilize UV lamps with additional wavelengths. These
additional wavelengths ensure a quicker reaction rate when it comes the
degrading of toxic compounds that are polluting the air you breathe.
Because PCO technology is an extremely
powerful purification method, PCO units have the ability to eliminate particles
as small as 0.001 microns, including the tiny penetrating particles that can
absorb into your lungs and cause damage (HEPA filters are only able to filter out
particles as small as 0.3 microns). Studies have also shown that in addition to
VOCs, toxic gases, and chemicals, photocatalytic units can also render gases
like carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide harmless - pollutants which can often
escape standard units utilizing HEPA or ionic technology alone.
Those concerned with the possible
health effects associated with PCO will be glad to know that PCO units have
been found to be absolutely safe, and they work wonderfully well for those with
asthma, allergies, and multiple chemical sensitivity.
CRUSADERS
AIR PURIFIERS have incorporated the best of both these technologies and thus
give you a complete solution. Since HEPA is required to arrest the hard mass
and other particulates which cannot be eliminated by PCO. Hence CRUSADERS has
developed a 7 Filter Technology for the heavy and wide range of pollution that
we face in India. To know more about CRUSADERS AIR PURIFIERS check out – www.indiancrusaders.com