This week's post is a first in set of articles designed to inform our readers about the technology behind air purification systems. This issue's focus is on the photo-catalytic oxidation process used by many Second Wind Air Purifier products.
Second Wind Air Purifier’s preferential approach to Air Purification is to use a process called Photo-Catalytic Oxidation (PCO). Four components are required to be present for this process to occur. These are: airflow, a light source, water vapor (humidity) and a catalyst. The chemical reaction occurs by combining UV (ultraviolet) light with a catalyst, to create a host of "Friendly Oxidizers". These are oxidizers that are based on oxygen and hydrogen and revert back to harmless carbon dioxide and water after they oxidize. NO CHEMICALS are involved and therefore NO CHEMICAL RESIDUE REMAINS.
Second Wind Air Purifier’s preferential approach to Air Purification is to use a process called Photo-Catalytic Oxidation (PCO). Four components are required to be present for this process to occur. These are: airflow, a light source, water vapor (humidity) and a catalyst. The chemical reaction occurs by combining UV (ultraviolet) light with a catalyst, to create a host of "Friendly Oxidizers". These are oxidizers that are based on oxygen and hydrogen and revert back to harmless carbon dioxide and water after they oxidize. NO CHEMICALS are involved and therefore NO CHEMICAL RESIDUE REMAINS.
The main oxidizer created is the Hydroxyl Radical (OH). This is a most important oxidizing species. It is highly reactive and is able to oxidize most chemicals. This powerful tool has been described as “the detergent of the atmosphere”. It is the strongest oxidizing process this side of fluorine.
The same process that creates hydroxyl radicals may also create lower levels of other friendly oxidizers, depending what other hydrocarbons are in the circulating air. Some of these oxidizers have a longer life-cycle and continue attacking contaminants as they travel throughout the home, scrubbing the surfaces and breaking down the contaminants they reach.
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| Relative oxidation power compared to chlorine. |
The same process that creates hydroxyl radicals may also create lower levels of other friendly oxidizers, depending what other hydrocarbons are in the circulating air. Some of these oxidizers have a longer life-cycle and continue attacking contaminants as they travel throughout the home, scrubbing the surfaces and breaking down the contaminants they reach.
The hydroxyl radical lifecycle is short-lived, but it is plenty of time to begin attacking odors, off-gases and pathogens nearby when using Second Wind's technology. Our systems use High Output UV-C lamps and a large catalyst surface area create MORE radicals. This is essential in understanding and evaluating different air purifiers, . It is worth noting that the higher the UV intensity and the more surface area of the catalyst you have, the better odor control you will receive.
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| Second Wind Air Purifier explanation of Photo-Catalytic Oxidation process (sorry, you may have to zoom) |
Aside from the whole-home purification that our products provide, there have been other groups working to provide odor control to other parts of the world using this same technology. A few articles are below.
TiO2 in pavement for improved air quality
Cotton Fabric cleans itself
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