Compare Air Purifiers

To compare air purifiers, the important things to consider that distinguish offers from one another include the technologies used for air purification.

There are several air purification technologies: electronic ion generators, ozone generators, uv air purifiers, macro particle filters, micro particle filters, activated carbon filters (possibly with zeolite and potassium permanganate), and photo catalytic purification.

If you're undecided as to what technology suits you best, there are now purifiers that combine several air cleaner technologies.

Compare Air Purifiers - Technologies

Of the different air purifier technologies, electronic ion generators contain negative ion generators that charge airborne particles. These particles are then attracted to charged metal plates or household surfaces.

Ozone generators, meanwhile, create ozone through an electrical charge. There are ranges of safe use (of ozone levels) for ozone purification, recommended by the FDA, for example. You can read more about the safe use of ozone generators at epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html.

Another technology, UV air purifiers, use germicidal UVC ultraviolet light for cleaning air.

Macro particle filters work as pre-filters for micro particle filters. These filters take out the larger pollution particles from air, extending effective product life of the micro particle filters.

Micro particle filters are measured by how effective they are in cleaning the small particles and how small particles they can purify from the circulating air. The most efficient micro filter technologies are called HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance), ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air), and SULPA (Super Ultra Low Penetration Air).

Activated carbon filters absorb gaseous particles and odors. There are several features that matter when choosing a cleaner with activated carbon filters, such as the amount of carbon in the filter, the thickness of the carbon filter, and the type of carbon used.

Photo catalytic purification occurs when an UVC light is used on titanium dioxide (TiO2) on a screen in front of the filter and interacts with water vapor creating a oxidizer which cleanses the air.