The Technology of Air Purifiers

There are a large number of technologies that are used to address the need for clean indoor air.  There are only a few however that are actually effective in treating the air without harming the individual.  These are HEPA, Electrostatic, UV, Activated Carbon, and some other adsorption materials like Zeolite Clay.  We have written several articles about these technologies and they are included here:

• HEPA - probably the best known and most effective for air purifiers.  These are also found in cleanrooms and other industrial applications.
• Activated Carbon - used initially to filter water this is a great media for absorbing chemical pollutants.
• Electronic - an overview and background about this technology.
• UV - ultraviolet light kills microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria.
• Cleanrooms - this is a brief overview of the HEPA technology used in an industrial application.
• Negative Ion - a questionable technology with some health implications.
• Ionic Breeze - This is a technology shown not to work.
• Ozone - This technology works well in industrial applications but is dangerous to humans.

There are many different technologies and mediums that are used in air purifiers so they can deliver clean and safe air to users. The different types of technologies that are used include HEPA, electronic, UV, ionic breeze and chemical adsorption mediums. Some of the technologies used are proven to be more effective than others and some may be harmful to users. Each type of technology that is used in an air purifier is designed to clean the air of specific particles and odors. The effectiveness and efficiency of each technology is measured in different ways. Choosing the best air purifier with the most efficient technology can be easy with some research and comparison.

High Efficiency Particulate Air filter, or HEPA, technology is one of the most popular technologies used in air purifiers. An air purifier that is equipped with a HEPA filter is able to absorb 99.7% of all particles that are 0.03 microns and larger in size. Most harmful particles that are found in the air are measured to be about 0.03 microns or larger. The HEPA filter is able to absorb most particles and make the air fresher and cleaner to breathe in. Chemical fumes, bacteria, dust particles and pollen are absorbed by the filter and the air that is produced by the air purifier after being filtered is free of these contaminants. Once the air enters the air purifier and flows through the HEPA filter, it is released into the room to circulate. 99.7% of all particles that were in the air and passed through the filter that were 0.00001182 inches and smaller in size were absorbed. HEPA technology has been around since the 1940's and is still being improved upon and advanced. Many air purifiers are so efficient due to the use of these filters.

Another type of technology that can be found is electronic technology. Air purifiers that use electronic technology are very effective in cleaning the air of particles, dust and fumes. Electronic technology uses an electronic charge to attract particles to collection plates and eliminates them from the air. Electronic air purifiers are proven to be 95% efficient and can absorb most particles from the air. Electronic air purifiers can be compared to magnets. They use static electricity to charge particles in the air. The opposite charge can be found in the air purifier and the two charges are attracted to each other, trapping the particles inside the air purifier. Electronic air purifiers are low maintenance and only require cleaning of the collection plates for optimal efficiency. The effectiveness of electronic air purifiers has become apparent due to the high percentage of efficiency.

Ionic breeze air purifiers are a technology used whose efficiency is yet to be proven. The ionic breeze air purifier is supposed to catch the particles on metal blades inside the purifier that carry an electric charge. The blades move the air through the unit by causing a flow of air. The negative ions and positive ions are supposed to attract and make the particles and fumes in the air stick to the blades. However, the ionic breeze purifiers are found to only be able to absorb about 30% of the particles in the air. The air purifier that used ionic breeze technology was also found to not take in all the air in an enclosed room. It was measured to have left about 5% of the contaminated air in the room to circulate without it ever being absorbed by the purifier. Consumer Reports gave ionic breeze purifiers a “poor” rating. Although they are readily available, consumers who research air purifying technologies before making a purchase are sure to avoid ionic breeze air purifiers.

One type of medium that is added to some air purifiers in order to eliminate odors or certain types of fumes is called chemical adsorption technology. Chemicals such as activated carbon, Zeolite or potassium permanganate are added to some air purifiers. They are able to add more efficiency to the filtering system that is used in the air purifier. These chemicals can work to absorb smoke or chemicals that may be present in the air. They specialize in neutralizing odors and absorbing chemicals. An effective filtering system that is also equipped with chemical adsorption materials can produce cleaner and fresher-smelling air.

There are many different types of technologies and mediums that are used in these air purifiers. Some of these technologies are more efficient and effective than others. The effectiveness of these technologies are measured and explained and can be found with a little research. When a consumer is choosing the most effective air purifier, the technology used in air purifiers is the most important factor he or she should consider.