Portable Air Purifiers
** Affiliate disclosure. This site is supported by its audience. When you click or purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Portable air purifiers are a simple and easy way to help improve indoor air quality. They can also be helpful in combating viruses, mold, and other indoor airborne pathogens.
Portable air purifiers use powerful and quiet fans to draw polluted air into the system. The filtered air is then exhausted back into the space, leaving the indoor environment refreshed and clean.
Hydroxyl Radical Technology
Hydroxyl Radical Technology (HRT) is a natural way to purify air and surfaces. It uses the sun’s UV light to disassemble water vapor (H20) into elemental hydrogen and oxygen molecules, forming the hydroxyl radical.
These hydroxyls oxidize contaminants, including PM, VOCs, and endotoxins. They also kill virus and bacteria.
They work by releasing a series of cascade reactions that create more hydroxyls and accelerate the elimination of pathogens. This is a very effective and safe disinfection method for occupied spaces, especially where there are people.
The hydroxyls generated by the process are a natural, non-toxic oxidant that destroys many pollutants at once without creating sludge. They also are an eco-friendly solution to cleaning and deodorizing indoors.
HEPA Filtration
HEPA filtration removes a wide range of allergens such as mould spores, dust mites and animal dander. These particles can cause symptoms like coughing, sneezing and itchy eyes.
Even if you don’t suffer from allergies, it’s important to have a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter in your home or office. For example, in the event of water damage, you’ll want to have a portable air purifier that can help clean up and dry out the affected areas.
HEPA filters are made up of a mesh of tightly woven fibers. These fibers are usually borosilicate glass or plastic and have openings that are small enough to trap 0.3 micron-sized particles.
UVC Purification
A portable air purifier with UVC Purification uses short-wave ultraviolet light (UV-C) to inactivate microorganisms like mold, bacteria and viruses. This technology is commonly known as germicidal irradiation or UVGI and has been used in healthcare settings for decades.
A UV-C lamp emits thousands of 254 nanometer UV rays that destroy the DNA structure and lifecycle of germs, bacteria and viruses so they can’t reproduce. They also release trillions of germicidal negative ions that decompose organic materials into basic molecules like water and carbon dioxide, which eliminates many odors and a variety of VOC’s.
Most portable UV-C air purifiers are designed to work with a filter (like a HEPA filter) that also removes particles. However, the EPA warns against using UV-C air purifiers alone because they can produce ozone.
Carbon Filtration
Activated carbon is one of the most effective filter mediums available for removing gases, smells, and common VOCs from indoor air. It can also help with respiratory conditions like asthma and allergies.
Typically, carbon filters come in two types: granular activated carbon (GAC) and carbon block filters. GAC filters are made of millimeter-sized granules of carbon that can remove contaminants.
However, the granules of this type of carbon can have a limited pore size as they are porous and may not be able to filter out small particles. This is why many portable air purifiers use carbon blocks. Activated carbon absorbs toxins and other impurities in water through a process called adsorption. It does this by exerting a magnetic-like pull on the contaminants in the water, attracting them to areas of the carbon pore channels where they have the most potent attractive forces.
Trisha is the lead writer @ AirQualityShop.com She also writes in the wellness and green space. On AirQualityShop.com Trisha specializes in pure air product reviews and DIY articles.