Biozone Scientific's PureWave™ process removes contaminants from air and surfaces by combining two very powerful purifying technologies - photoplasma and photochemistry. While these methodologies have been well studied and documented by the scientific community, the synergy of their interaction produces a unique and a superlative way of cleaning air and surfaces of contaminants.
Photochemistry is the chemical reaction or change in material caused by exposure to light energy. The process typically requires the use of photons in the ultraviolet spectral range. Ultraviolet light in this range is useful for disinfection purposes. When a strong enough ultraviolet light is present, it becomes useful in the destruction of contaminating organic compounds. Almost all indoor contaminants are organic, such as toxic volatile organic compounds, dust particles like dander, hair, dust mite feces, etc., and biological contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Photochemistry can break down these harmful organic molecules.Ultraviolet light with enough energy such as in the 100-280 nanometer wavelength range can also break down the electron bonds of an organic molecule.
Ultraviolet wavelengths in the 100-280 nanometer bandwidth not only break down electron bonding of an organic molecule, but also initiate the formation of a cold gas plasma. We excite gases by the energy from ultraviolet light waves and create a highly energized gaseous state. The plasma, or highly energized gaseous state, is aggressive and highly reactive and contains excited atoms and molecules, ionized gases, radicals, and free electrons. It can destroy just about all organic contaminants. The destruction mechanism primarily involves the photodissociation of molecular oxygen leading to the formation of highly oxidizing species, such as atomic oxygen, molecular singlet oxygen and ozone. These reactive species interact with contaminants converting most to carbon dioxide and water. The UV light also creates electron ejection of organic molecules that produces additional free radical creation. The radicals react with oxygen producing hydroperoxide ions, with the whole process creating a chain reaction with organic compounds triggering further oxidation. When additional hydrogen is added as in the form of water or water vapor (humidity), the highly oxidative species hydroxyl radicals is created. These radical ions are stable and are very destructive to organic contaminants because they steal hydrogen atoms from the organic materials, leaving decaying carbon ions. The theft of hydrogen from organic molecules forms even stronger hydroxyl radical bonds with even higher oxidation potential. This entire process turns into a chain reaction Ð the breakdown and formation of new hydroxyl radicals results in the continual decay of organic material.
The ejecting of electrons from a molecule by high energy ultraviolet light is called the photoelectric effect, and it can be further enhanced by irradiating what is called a "photoelectron emitting member" to eject more electrons. Such a photoelectron emitting member is contained in Biozone Air Purifiers. The photoelectrons ejected are used to charge fine particles in a gas which are then removed from the air stream as they attach to oppositely charged surfaces. This electrically charging of dust and other particulates can remove particles as small as .001 micron. It should be noted that each of the electron ejections can cause multiple ionization events. For example, in the photoelectric effect, the photon undergoes only one interaction, yet thousands of ionizations can be caused by the resultant electron and its products.
The PureWave™ process combining photochemistry and photoplasma has been reported to be extremely potent in removing contaminants from the air and surfaces. There is scientific evidence that surfaces can be decontaminated 100 - 2000 times faster than with other purifying methods.
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