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Next Generation of Home Air Purifiers
Photocatalytic air cleaners have a photocatalyst, an UV light source that illuminates the catalyst surface, and a fan that passes air over the catalyst surface. According to American Lung Association's research on the next generation technologies, the photocatalyst absorbs photons of ultraviolet light to drive oxidation and reduction reactions on the catalyst surface, which reportedly convert organic pollutants to carbon dioxide and water. The other emerging chemical conversion technology uses catalytic conversion of one compound into another, less hazardous compound. Under development are catalytic panels that remove nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide from air at room temperature. Residential versions of this technology are still in the waiting. Next Generation of Home Air Purifiers - ULPA and SULPA As air purifiers are becoming more commonplace in homes, the prices for previously advanced technologies are coming down. HEPA filter technology, which offers advanced filtering with up to 99.97% filtering efficiency of particles as small as 0.3 microns and larger, has become commonplace. The specification was reportedly designed by the Atomic Energy Commission during WWII. The original purpose was to classify efficiency as to how efficiently radioactive plant exhausts were retained by the filter. Thus, HEPA technology, despite being quite new in home air purifiers, has roots dating far aback. Another emerging technology, ULPA (Ultra Low Penetrating Air), has quite old origins as well. The specification was offered as early as 1961, to meet the requirements for cleaner air in facilities needed for the manufacture of microelectronics, but has taken until now to make its way towards homes. ULPA has purifying efficiency up to 99.999% of particles as small as 0.12 microns and larger. Then there's SULPA, an emerging technology that has 99.9999% efficiency for the similar size particles. |