Overview
Do air purifiers help with covid – After 3 years and numerous variants, the world is still recovering from the destruction caused by Covid-19. The threat of the virus is equally critical inside as it is outside. Small spaces, increase the chances of infection because the virus can linger long on surfaces.
So it becomes inevitable for us to ask the big question:
Do air purifiers filter viruses and bacteria?
The answer to this question is YES. According to the numerous studies and research conducted by scientists, it is established as a fact that air purifiers really do trap the COVID-19 virus. To understand how that happens let us understand the two air purification methods.
There are 2 ways to fight the microbial in the air:
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Trapping the virus & bacteria via Passive Air Purification
As simple as it sounds, Passive Air Purification consists of mechanical filters that trap the pollutants in the air flowing through them. These mechanical filters can be pre-filter, HEPA filters, cold catalyst filters, anti-bacterial filters, and carbon filters. The pollutants remain in the air until they pass through the filter, they get trapped. Passive air purification is capable of trapping pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. These filters prevent us from major harmful pollutants like VOCs, Particulate Matter, dander, pollen, odor, and dust. These filters need to be seasonally cleaned for an optimum performance yield.
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Neutralizing the virus & bacteria via Active Air Purification
Active Air Purification neutralizes the microbial at the source. It does not require the air purifier to circulate air in the room through the purifier. PHI-CELL releases low levels of Hydrogen peroxide in the air. This fine mist of airborne hydrogen peroxide eliminates odors and reduces contaminants like bacteria, viruses, allergens, and pollutants like Formaldehyde by chemically reacting with the pollutants and rendering them harmless.
Hydrogen Peroxide is an oxidizer that modifies the RNA structure of the virus eventually leaves the virus unable to reproduce further
About HEPA filters
HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. The history of HEPA filters dates back to the World War 2 era. These filters were designed to capture small particles released during research and testing of nuclear weapons.
Since then, much research has been done and many varieties have been developed depending on the utility of the filters.
HEPA filters can be categorized into 2 types:
The number following HEPA defines the level of efficiency of the filter.
- HEPA 10-12 This HEPA filter traps 85-99.5% of all particles that are 0.1 microns in diameter. These are normal filters.
- HEPA 13-14 The HEPA 13 filter captures 99.95% while HEPA 14 filter captures a clean 99.99% of the particles circulating through the air purifier.
These super-efficient filters are medical-grade filters and are commonly used in numerous pharmaceutical devices and find application in places like hospitals, clinics, and laboratories.
This difference may sound insignificant but cumulatively leads to a huge difference in the long run.
It is important to note that, the only HEPA filter that is capable of filtering COVID-19 is the HEPA-14 Medical Grade filter.
In addition, the HEPA-14 filter only manages to capture the virus and not neutralize it.
HEPA filters are not washable. They are supposed to be cleaned with a cloth or vacuumed.
But There’s A Problem
Even though, individually, both Active and Passive air purification are efficient at filtering the pollutants, it is advisable to use a hybrid air purification method to keep away coronavirus. It might be a good option to use either Activ or Passive air purification against normal microbial and pollutants but the size of Covid-19 virus is 0.125 microns and there are chances that in passive air purification, the virus may escape during the 5th or 6th cycle of air circulation through the air purifier.
In passive air purification, since the air continuously passes through the filter, recirculates it in the room, the virus may escape due to this repeated circulation.
Considering the virulent nature of coronavirus, we suggest it is always good to be double sure.
This means HEPA filters do not completely destroy the COVID-19 virus but successfully trap it away from your breathing air.
The Best Preventive Measure: Hybrid Air Purifier
Hybrid Air Purifier is a high-performance air filtration device with a compact design.
While it uses both Active and Passive air purification technologies it is also fully customizable.
When we say customizable, we mean that you can customize the Air Purifier to the point where you can as for chemical filters for specific outdoor gases.
It has a 5-stage filtration process that consists of HEPA-14 filters, carbon filters, and PHI-CELL to ensure your air’s cleanliness.
With these filters, Hybrid Air Purifier easily Neutralises pollutants like:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Pollen
- Dander
- Odor
- Fungus
- PM 1.0 & PM 2.5
- VOCs
- Dust
- Mold
Hybrid Air Purifier finds its application across all those major locations that are more prone to spread the virus due to large crowds gatherings or frequent people movements like Hotels, Gyms, Restaurants, Offices, etc
This product comes with advanced sensors that will alert you when there’s a need to change filters, indicates AQI levels in your air and
PHI Cell is installed along with HEPA-14. This HEPA-14 Medical grade filter is fitted only in Hybrid Air Purifier among all the retail products by O2Cure.
Other O2Cure Products That Filter Viruses & Bacteria
Car Air Purifier
Another O2Cure product that uses hybrid air purification technology is the Car Air Purifier.
A low-maintenance portable device that can be used in small spaces as it comes with a USB port. It uses normal HEPA filters along with UV LED technology. Unlike conventional UV technology, UV LED is capable of filtering out all types of pollutants and does not emit harmful ozone gas.
Car Air Purifier is an efficient defense against coronavirus since it acts as a surface disinfectant because of its active air purification technology and purifies the air around you as well.
