The Efficacy of Portable Air Purifiers in Reducing COVID-19 Transmission

The Efficacy of Portable Air Purifiers in Reducing COVID-19
Transmission
Published on 5 Nov 2020
Our world plunged into a new set of uncomfortable norms in 2020. Mere months ago, life
for much of the planet chugged along at its customary monotonous pace. Then, without
forewarning, an insidious health threat thrust upon us.
COVID-19, colloquial for SARS-CoV-2, is a novel coronavirus that originated in China in late
2019. It quickly burned around the globe like a dry brush fire. Not since a hundred years ago has
humanity confronted mask wearing and social distancing in efforts to prevent suffering on a
pandemic scale.
A single COVID-19 viral particle is extremely small at 0.06 microns. This pure form of COVID-19
is not found outside a laboratory and would not survive even if it made its way into the
environment.
A single sneeze can eject 200 million COVID-19 particles into the air
Instead, SARS-CoV-2, when expelled by infected human hosts, is encapsulated by mucus

material.
Hosts shed airborne viral particles in two modalities: droplets and aerosols. Droplets are about 1
micron while aerosols approximate 0.5 microns. Millions of viral droplets and aerosols are
sloughed-off by talking, laughing, coughing, sneezing, singing or simply by breathing. A single
sneeze can eject 200 million COVID-19 particles into the air.
Portable air purifiers provide a potent tool in the fight to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The
selection and deployment of an appropriate purifier are instrumental in lessening airborne viral
droplets and aerosols. Advanced purification units can sterilize air as well as trap pathogens.
This best-of-both-worlds approach to disease prevention is vitally important.
HEPA Filtration
An air purifier must have a medical-grade HEPA filter if the goal is trapping airborne pathogens.
HEPA filters remove 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size. HEPA has different levels.
The H-values of HEPA range from H10 through H14. Medical-grade HEPA is H13 or higher and
provides filtration efficiencies of 99.95% of 0.1 micron-size particles per liter of air. As a result,
medical-grade HEPA is highly effective in COVID-19 droplet and aerosol elimination.
Clear Air Delivery Rate
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is a critical metric of a purifier's ability to remove particles of a
given size and is measured in Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM.) This drastically differs from a CFM
metric alone. CFM as a standalone value demonstrates only the volume of air moved through a
system without regard to particle removal. CADR is a compulsory and precise method of
comparing air purifiers in a standardized manner. Choosing a purifier with the highest CADR is
always preferable. Experts recommend devices with a CADR that moves the total air volume of a
room through the purifier 5 to 6 times per hour.
Portable air purifiers provide a potent tool in the fight to reduce the spread
of COVID-19
Ultraviolent Light
Ultraviolent Light (UV) is a powerful sterilization strategy. UV is used in medical settings

worldwide for this purpose. While utilizing UV in a purifier is advantageous, selecting a device
with UV in 254 nm wavelength is paramount. UV outside of this wavelength can excite oxygen
into creating harmful ozone molecules consisting of 3 oxygen atoms. Cutting-edge air purifiers
have 254 nm UV bulbs formulated with doped quartz. Such doping precludes secondary
harmonic UV wavelengths from radiating from the bulb. UV is an invaluable element of air
decontamination if ensured UV is 254 nm and doped bulbs are utilized.
Photocatalysis
Some air purifiers employ photocatalytic Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) membranes to complement
their UV. The resulting photocatalysis dramatically enhances the sanitizing effects of UV. A TiO2
photocatalytic reaction under UV radiation provides additional disinfection pathways in addition
to UV directly acting upon pathogens. Thus, both direct UV and photocatalysis provide
exceedingly effective methods of microorganism degradation and destruction.
Other Technologies
Other technologies are found in purifiers, such as sophisticated filters to thwart VOC/TVOC
compounds and negative ion generation. Negative ions have antibacterial properties, including
marked reductions of acinetobacter transmission. Also, negative ions have the beneficial
capacity to precipitate airborne PM1.0 and PM2.5 particulate matter, which are impurities that
affects health.
Advanced purification units can sterilize air as well as trap pathogens
With the COVID-19 age upon us, portable air purifiers provide enormously powerful weapons in
protecting the health of persons inside enclosed spaces. Air purification coupled with other air
quality measures -- such as ensuring a suitable amount of outside air exchange, air agitation
with fans and upgrading existing HVAC filters with MERV-13 -- present an effective and
comprehensive approach to health and safety.
View this article on HVACInformed.com.
Author Profile
R. William Pierce
R. William Pierce is currently a senior process engineer for VironAire, a medical equipment
manufacturer based in Palm Springs, California. William has been instrumental in the
development of several air monitoring and purification systems, including VironAire’s iNOX19
high-performance H13 HEPA filters. Previously, he consulted to the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration in filtrate material sciences. He is a graduate of California State University
at Chico.
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The Efficacy of Portable Air Purifiers in Reducing COVID-19

Published on 5 Nov 2020

Instead, SARS-CoV-2, when expelled by infected human hosts, is encapsulated by mucus

Clear Air Delivery Rate

Ultraviolent Light (UV) is a powerful sterilization strategy. UV is used in medical settings

Advanced purification units can sterilize air as well as trap pathogens

View this article on HVACInformed.com.

Using Silicone To Improve HVAC Intelligent HVAC Solutions: Enabling a

HVAC-Equipped Smart Shelters Help To Assessing The Impact Of HVAC On

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