Skip to content Yes, there is scientific information available at this point that SARS-CoV-2 can be inactivated by using technologies like oxidation and photocatalysis. A photocatalytic system has the power to inactivate this virus when it passes through its treatment zone. Let’s discuss it further to understand the research on the topic and how it can be effective.
See Full Research Here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9512902/
We all are aware of the horrific COVID-19 and the pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that is primarily responsible for COVID-19. This virus spreads through any forms of aerosols or respiratory particles. When released it can infect the other person through breath, cough, talk, or sneezing. This explains why a lot of emphasis was on lockdown and contact control.
Since these particles linger in the air, the indoor air is also not safe from these airborne contaminants. It is important to improve ventilation to remove these airborne particles and make sure that the exposure of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is kept to the lowest.
-there are two ways to approach this cleaning technology:
The second approach, combined with other air-treatment mechanisms, is the basis for the design of Triad Aer.
Photocatalytic oxidation: is an air-treatment process in which very reactive species are formed by applying a photocatalyst and light.
These reactive species can oxidize and decompose a variety of contaminants such as some microorganisms and organic compounds. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is one popular photocatalyst that is studied.
The photocatalytic surface may be activated to produce reactive oxygen species, under the proper conditions. These may destroy biological structures like viral proteins, membranes/envelopes, and RNA/DNA.
This damage can lead to the viral inactivation (loss of ability to infect cells) in the case of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
It is important to understand that different technologies can remove the virus cells from the vicinity but it is very difficult to inactivate the virus altogether. A lot of peer-reviewed research has shown that photocatalytic technology and photochemical approaches can be used for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2.
Literature also shows that SARS-CoV-2 can be treated by studying the photocatalytic materials, titanium dioxide and other oxidation mechanisms
According to research photocatalytic treatments are effective in order to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They have been experimentally controlled conditions under which the study shows that it provides substantial reduction in the exposure of SARS-CoV-2.
This is important because COVID-19 almost put everyone on the verge of isolation. Therefore if a filter provides not only removal but inactivation of the virus itself, it is significant in the medical research.
Therefore it can potentially damage and inactivate the virus as it passes through the treatment zones, becoming a revolutionary discovery for humanity.
Triad Aer uses multiple technologies to make sure it works effectively against the airborne particles.
Photocatalytic oxidation is integrated in the system together with other technologies for air treatment. The objective of the treatment is to remove contamination from the air instead of just particles through standard particle filtration.
Finally, it is important to consider the PCO component when talking about SARS-CoV-2, since it is a potential chemical mechanism for the inactivation of microorganisms.
In other words, the concept is:
There are multiple factors that determine the effectiveness of this process. For example it depends on the intensity of the treatment, the properties of the photocatalytic surface, the airflow, the contact time and the design of the treatment chamber.
Yes there is a difference between the two technologies. Here’s how we distinguish between them:
The HEPA air filtration technology works on the principle of capturing the airborne particles. The main focus here is to remove it from the circulating air but it does not inactivate the airborne particle.
On the other hand photocatalytic oxidation, also known as PCO technology, reacts with these species to make sure they are inactivated and damaged as they pass through the treatment section.
Both of these technologies are effective and needed in battling with the airborne contaminants but they work on different principles.
Many people confuse inactivation with killing. We would recommend calling triad air and inactivated of the coronavirus instead of the killer. This is said so because bacteria are usually killed but the viruses are inactivated, making it incapable of spreading the viral infection any further.
So triad aer technically does not kill the COVID-19 virus but in fact it is designed so to inactivate these microorganisms. After inactivation this SARS-CoV-2 is not given the environmental conditions to spread the virus. Therefore it stops spreading the virus anymore.
It is better to use the term inactivation to prevent over-stating of the laboratory research in the commercial market.
Under the tested conditions lab results have shown that PCO technology can be used against SARS-CoV-2.
But it is also important to understand that the lab experiments do not assume that any particular air purifier can completely remove or inactivate SARS-CoV entirely.
There are multiple factors on which the performance of this air purifier depends, including the following:
There is a huge advantage in using multiple technologies together, especially in the air treatment systems. Triad Aer makes use of PCO and other modern technologies to make sure the indoor treatment is done well, the air quality index goes up, and it prevents the spread of any form of virus.
Therefore by using different technologies all sorts of different contaminants can be treated under different processes.
For stubborn airborne contaminants like SARS-CoV-2, PCO technology can be used to inactivate it and improve the overall process by oxidation treatments. Therefore PCO technology serves as the primary technology but there are two technologies that link together to make sure the air is completely clean.
It is important to understand that there is a huge difference in air purification through air purifiers and ventilation. Although air purifiers work effectively, they can never substitute for ventilation in the home
The premise of an air purifier is that it allows air to pass through its device but it is also important to remember that a purifier cannot completely take every single particle in the room instantly. For this reason it is often recommended that an air purifier should be sized based on the size of the room and the nature of the environment.
In general, good practice for indoor-air quality includes a mix of measures including:
Ozone is produced as a result of the air purification treatment. Triad aer has different modes leading to different ozone production. For example at a higher output mode the ozone is produced but at the normal PCO operation it does not release ozone.
While ozone is an effective oxidizing agent, it is also important to remember that it can affect health if present at a higher concentration level. Therefore if you are living in closed spaces, it is important to follow all the instructions mentioned by the manufacturer. The safety guidance should also be assumed before using the air purification system.
Therefore, air treatment is needed and very important but it should be done so without creating an unhealthy indoor environment
It is not necessarily useful to think of PCO and HEPA as competing technologies.
They try to solve the problem in a different way.
A HEPA purifier is a tried and tested way to capture particles from the air. PCO offers a way to perform both oxidative treatment and microbial inactivation.
So, you may ask. What is the overall reduction of infectious particles and viable virus in the air when the device is operated in realistic conditions?
That involves thinking about all the system, air flow, treatment efficiency and room air exchange.
The photocatalytic and oxidative technologies’ performance in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed by scientific studies under specific experimental conditions.
The photocatalytic oxidation is integrated with other technologies to treat air, making the device a system to treat the air-borne contaminants and potentially deactivate SARS-CoV-2 as air flows through the system.
But it’s worth to note that the difference between viral inactivation within a system and a system that can remove coronavirus from a whole room is significant.
Triad Aer should be part of a comprehensive indoor-air strategy which may include ventilation, the use of proper filtration and other steps to minimize airborne exposure.
