Ozone-Free Air Purifiers: Why They Are Not Effective

Air purifiers remove particles, bacteria, and other air pollutants from the air. The ozone-free air purifiers are an excellent choice for reducing ozone exposure without sacrificing performance. However, ozone-free air purifiers cannot kill pathogens quickly because they do not generate output and treat surfaces. High levels of ozone can be unsafe for people and, plants to be present, but, low levels of ozone can be safe while people and plants are present. This article will go over the pros and cons of ozone and ozone-free air purifiers.

 

What is Ozone?

Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It is both a natural and an artificial product that occurs in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. It occurs naturally in the stratosphere and benefits plants and animals by preventing damaging ultraviolet light from reaching the Earth’s surface.

 

The benefits of ozone

Purifiers that produce ozone can kill a wide range of airborne pathogens and chemical contaminants in the air. They are effective against bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and other allergens without leaving any harmful residues or byproducts from treatment. In addition, ozone is an effective sanitizing agent that offers protection from infections and allergies.

Air purification systems that produce ozone can:

 

• Kill pathogens quickly.
• Reduce odor, smoke particles, and other air pollutants.
• Creates fresher air by neutralizing strong smells like cannabis odor and other VOCs.
• Provide surface treatment.

 

Is ozone good or bad?

Ozone can effectively protect people and plants from pathogens, mold, bacteria, germs, viruses, odor and provide surface treatment. However, High ozone levels in the room can damage plants and be harmful to people. That is why ozone generators would usually have a label on their product that may warn that ozone generators can harm people and plants while present.

 

When it comes to producing safe, low Ozone levels, it can be very effective in killing pathogens, mold spores, bacteria viruses, and odor and safe for people and plants while present. According to OSHA standards the safe level of Ozone for people are:

1. 24 hour average exposure limit 0.050ppm
2. 8 hour average exposure limit 0.100ppm
3. Short-term exposure limit 0.300ppm

 

When looking for an air purifier that produces ozone, make sure it meets OSHA standards to be safe to use. Those air purifiers that meet OSHA standards are safe and very effective for microbial protection.

 

The Truth About Ozone Free Air Purifiers

Air purifiers that claim zero-emission, no ozone can be effective. However, the flaw of not producing safe, low levels of ozone with these air purifiers can:

• Not provide surface treatment.
• It is Not quick at killing pathogens.
• Does Not provide effective odor control.
• It is Not effective in extending food shelf life compared to ozone.
• Not very effective in removing mold and bacteria from surfaces.
• Not very effective in reducing cross-contamination.

In conclusion, I hope this will help you understand how ozone works and the pros and cons of using an ozone-free air purifier. If you are a cultivator looking for microbial protection in your cultivation facility, we recommend getting an air purifier that produces some ozone. However, make sure to check if it meets OSHA standards for ozone levels before buying one.

We manufacture AirROS air and surface purification systems that create seven of the Reactive Oxygen Species. Ozone is one of the seven and produces safe, low levels of ozone that meet OSHA standards for safe use that reduce pathogens, mold, bacteria, viruses, yeast, and odor control in two stages. The ozone is vital to creating an effective sanitizer for surface cleaning.

See the image below on how safe AirROS meets OSHA standard using ozone.

 

How AirROS Air and Surface Purifiers Work

AirROS purifiers utilize and create ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species). First, it kills pathogens and odor as it passes through the air purifier. Then, it sanitizes the air that comes out of the purifier and enters the environment, and continues to sanitize all surfaces it contacts. Here is the 2 stage process:

Phase 1- Primary Air Cleaning

Placed within your room’s airflow, air from the environment containing microorganisms enters the purifier’s internal chamber. The reaction chamber creates non-thermal plasma and generates ROS. ROS has comprised of 5 short-lived, highly Reactive Oxygen Species:

• Atomic oxygen,
• Singlet oxygen,
• Hydroxyl radical,
• Superoxide and
• Peroxynitrite

These break down carbon-to-carbon bonds that sanitize the air and destroy all bacteria, molds, viruses, and other pathogens as they pass through the reaction chamber.

Phase 2- Secondary Surface & Air Cleaning

Provides Surface sanitation and continued Air sanitation. The purified air now diffused into the environment contains longer lived Reactive Oxygen Species:

• Gas-phased H2O2- hydrogen peroxide
• Low concentration levels of O3-ozone

That further sanitizes room air and surfaces. So again, in addition to treating the ambient air as it passes through the reaction chamber, using the H2O2 and O3 diffused into the environment, our units will further sanitize all Surfaces and control Odor, resulting in clean air and surfaces 24/7.

 

If you have been struggling to get rid of the smell from your cannabis cultivation operation, it may be time for a change. There are many ways to control and eliminate the odors coming from your grow space, but most methods do not work very well on their own. Air filters can help reduce some smells, while ozone generators and odor neutralizers will temporarily mask them. However, the best way to eliminate odor would be to use an air purifier with surface and air capabilities like our AirROS system which eliminates the odor. Contact us today if you want more information about AirROS air and surface purifier for odor mitigation at your facility – one phone call could make all the difference!

 

For cannabis cultivators interested in protecting their facilities from microbial and providing odor control, please schedule a call or contact us through email.