Airborne Contamination:
Effective Air Treatment with Photoclean
Combating airborne contamination is a critical issue in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors—as well as within businesses and public institutions—where it is responsible for numerous infections and illnesses each year.
Photoclean, a specialist in industrial UV air treatment, explains how microbiological and chemical contaminants spread through the air and outlines the benefits of its solution for continuous UV disinfection tailored to the needs of your business.
What is airborne contamination?
Airborne contamination refers to contamination caused by pathogens transmitted through the air via small airborne particles that spread throughout an enclosed space.
These pathogens include both microorganisms (biocontamination) as well as inert particles present in dust or adhering to surfaces. Microorganisms (living entities such as bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses) feed on some of these organic particles and, in turn, release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are often malodorous.
When changes occur in the environment, these contaminants become airborne and can thus cause contamination. Since most of these particles are small enough to be inhaled (ranging from 0.02 to 0.25 µm for viruses, 0.3 to 15 µm for bacteria, and 1 to 50 µm for mold), the risk of contamination is significant.
Our skin and respiratory tracts themselves harbor a significant number of microorganisms. While awake, a single person emits, on average, more than 5,000,000 particles per minute. It is therefore not surprising that a significant portion of airborne transmission is of human origin.
When we speak or sneeze, we expel nasopharyngeal droplets, which then shrink in size until they become fine particles that remain suspended in the air for hours and spread throughout indoor spaces in the form of aerosols.
In the workplace, this type of contamination causes allergies and various illnesses and contributes to the spread of viruses such as the flu and the coronavirus. In hospitals, airborne transmission is closely linked to nosocomial infections, which account for no fewer than 750,000 infections and 4,000 deaths per year in France, according to data from INSERM.
Microbiological contaminants can also cause significant damage in the food industry by coming into contact with their production environment (spoiled products, accelerated ripening, odors, mold, etc.), leading to disastrous human and economic consequences.
Photoclean: Continuous air decontamination suitable for all types of facilities
Numerous studies—and, of course, practical experience—show that air treatment tailored to the environment is the most effective way to combat airborne infections.
The most widely used decontamination method to date relies on absolute filters—the finest available on the market—which are capable of trapping contaminants, including certain viruses. However, these filters result in significant pressure drop due to the pressure required to filter the air so finely. This leads to systems that can be very large, depending on the volume to be treated, and high energy consumption.
It should also be noted that a significant number of air changes per hour (20 to 30 on average) are necessary for this system to be truly effective.
For all these reasons, the UV-C air decontamination and purification modules designed by PhotoClean are an ideal solution for hospitals and laboratories, as well as production facilities and offices.
Our technology is based on photolysis, a natural phenomenon that occurs through the combined action of our UV lamps and a specific filter medium. Unlike a filter, our system does not trap contaminants and therefore does not store them; instead, it breaks them down and destroys their ability to replicate through a self-cleaning exchanger. Microorganisms and VOCs are oxidized until they are converted into CO₂ and H₂O.
There are many advantages to this method:
- There’s no longer any need to change the filters regularly (which tend to become clogged with particulate matter): annual maintenance is sufficient to ensure optimal performance.
- There’s no longer any need to invest in an expensive and cumbersome system that requires modifications to your premises: the size of our standalone modules can be adapted to fit your space, and our universal air disinfection modules are compatible with all air handling units and ductwork systems.
- You’ll achieve significant energy savings: pressure drop is minimal, and the number of air changes per hour required is lower. It will be around 10 per hour, compared to 30 with a conventional filtration method.
- No more risk of spreading viruses. Since your air handling units (AHUs) recirculate all or part of the indoor air, they distribute potentially contaminated air throughout your various spaces. Since our systems destroy contaminants, you prevent them from spreading. If your air handling unit recirculates indoor air, our products allow you to continuously decontaminate it before distributing it throughout your various rooms.
- Our system is capable of handling all types of spaces, including industrial buildings larger than 60,000 cubic meters.
- Our technology allows you to achieve a microbiological cleanroom without necessarily having to build a particulate cleanroom, which is much more expensive and energy-intensive.
To ensure you receive a customized solution, Photoclean always visits your facilities to conduct a comprehensive audit. Based on the issues identified, the layout of your facilities, and the decontamination levels required by your business, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive action plan, including layout diagrams, to ensure the quick and smooth installation of our equipment.
Would you like more information or to schedule an appointment with our engineering department?
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