Air ionizers are a type of air purification technology that uses an electrical charge to generate ions, which can then be used to remove particles from the air. Ionizers can be manufactured in many different ways, with some relying on air currents within the room to carry particles through them and others using a fan to speed up the process. They can also be combined with other air purification technologies, such as a HEPA filter or a carbon filter, to remove more particles from the air or to eliminate odors and other gaseous contaminants. However, the process of using an electrical charge to generate ions also creates ozone gas, which is toxic and can irritate the lungs even at low concentrations.
If you're looking for an effective way to remove particles such as dust, pet dander, pollen or mold spores from the air in your home, HEPA filters are a great option. Carbon filters are effective against gaseous contaminants and odors, but need to be changed periodically and are not effective against contaminating particles. Molekule offers ozone-free air purifiers that contain PECO technology, which goes beyond trapping particles in filters to destroy particles and gaseous contaminants. When it comes to air cleaning units, it's important to understand their air volume limitations, which are identified by a “clean air supply rate” (CADR).
A CADR is the cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air from which all particles of a given size distribution have been removed. The higher the CADR number of each contaminant, the faster the unit filters the air for contaminants in a particular size range. Electronic air filters (including ionizers, electrostatic precipitators, hydroxyl generators, and ultraviolet light) use electrical voltage to convert oxygen molecules, or other species, into their charged ionic components that inactivate air pollutants. In the case of bipolar ionization, positive and negative ions surround the air particles, destroying germs and pathogens present. While there is some popular controversy surrounding the extent to which air filters can reduce the presence of larger particles (such as pollen, household dust, allergens, mold spores, and animal dander), most of these large particles settle on surfaces in the home or office and cannot be removed by an air filter unless they are altered and re-suspended in the air. With proper care and maintenance, portable air filters will continue to work properly and filter the air.
Ozone-generating air filters are devices that purposely create ozone to clean the air through chemical interactions that alter the compounds of the pollutants, but this is also the mechanism by which ozone exerts harmful health effects.
