Ever wonder what all of these IAQ products actually do? How do they work to provide cleaner air? And which technology is the best? This article will address the 3 main types of IAQ technology and explain how they work so you can make an informed purchasing decision.
FRESH-AIRE UV: UV LIGHT
UV light disinfection is widely used in hospitals and laboratories to sanitize instruments and work surfaces and to prevent the spread of potentially lethal airborne infectious diseases. The technology is used by the food industry to sterilize food before packaging and water treatment systems large and small now incorporate UV light as a chemical-free means of purification.
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a range of light frequencies that are mostly invisible to the human eye. The UV-C band is most effective at killing germs because its short wavelength can penetrate the cell walls of microorganisms and scramble their DNA, which prevents them from reproducing. Also, UV-C is normally filtered out by the earth’s atmosphere, so microbes have no defense against it. UV-C improves indoor air quality by sterilizing mold, bacteria, viruses, and allergens from the air as it cycles through the central air system.
PLASMA AIR: BIPOLAR IONIZATION
Much like sunlight does in the atmosphere, Plasma Air technology produces a natural bio-climate rich in positive and negative oxygen ions. The negative ions contain an extra electron while the positive ions are missing an electron resulting in an unstable condition. In an effort to re-stabilize, these bipolar ions seek out atoms and molecules in the air to trade electrons with, effectively neutralizing particulate matter, bacteria and virus cells, odorous gases and aerosols, and VOCs.
- Airborne particles are charged by the ions causing them to cluster and be caught in filters
- Bacteria and viruses bond with oxygen ions and are inactivated
- Many odorous gases and aerosols oxidize with oxygen ions and are neutralized
- Oxygen ions cause a reaction with VOCs breaking down their molecular structure
Ions are molecules or atoms that contain an electrical charge and exist in nature in various sizes. Small ions only last between 30 and 300 seconds before losing their charge but are extremely active. Small ion densities range from 900 to 1,100 negative ions and 1,000 to 1,200 positive ions per cubic centimeter (ions/cm3) in pristine natural environments. At sea level ion density is typically around 500 negative and 600 positive ions/cm3. In cities and inside buildings ion levels drop by 80% to 95% and can be barely detectable in small spaces. As ion density decreases, so does the air quality. By increasing the quantity of both positively and negatively charged small oxygen ions, air quality is improved. This is the basis of Plasma Air’s bipolar ionization technology.
AIR SCRUBBER: ACTIVEPURE®
ActivePure is a patented Advanced Photocatalysis technology. It works by creating and propelling disinfecting molecules into the air in a room, which quickly neutralize pathogens everywhere. ActivePure molecules work by destabilizing the shell of a virus, bacteria or other microscopic contaminant to destroy its living environment, turning it into harmless byproducts. ActivePure technology is designed to use the Law of Gases to carry its neutralizing molecules into every nook and cranny, in every space. The Law of Gases is the reason that the smell of microwaved popcorn immediately spreads through your entire home. These odorless and invisible ActivePure molecules fly through the air from our portable and installed ActivePure products, neutralizing pathogens in the air.
ActivePure is very different from other technologies that take a passive approach and require that the pathogen be pulled into a filter, UV light or PCO mechanism. ActivePure does not wait to see the pathogens are captured. It neutralizes them in the air you breathe and on the surfaces you touch. ActivePure can deliver measurable results, giving you the peace of mind to know that you are providing an important layer of protection for your indoor spaces. ActivePure technology is used in hospitals, statehouses, and other shared work facilities across the world and is proven by science and validated by multiple third parties. ActivePure is not too good to be true.