Air Purifier and Air Cleaner Reviews and Comparisons

How to Demystify the Process of Selecting the RIGHT Air Purifier or Air Cleaner for Your Needs

There are many different air purification technologies and air cleaners on the market, but no one air purifier technology can solve every air pollution type, which is why we carry different brands. This section will help to demystify the process of determining which technology is right for your pollution problem, and help you select the models that suit your environment and budget.

Air Purifiers by Technology

• Air Ionizers
• HEPA and Carbon Filters
• UV PhotoCatalytic Oxidation Systems
• Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
• Heat Sterilization

• Ozone Generators

• Other Technologies

Air Ionizers

Negative ions clean the air of particulates like dust, dander and pollen by magnetically attracting to pollutants until these newly-formed larger particles become too heavy to remain in the air you breathe.

Surround Multi-Tech Air Ionizers

Surround Air Ionizers continually produce negative ions, so even if one of these fallen particles is kicked up into the air, it is quickly removed again. The most important thing, though, is that they are taken out of the air, preventing you from inhaling them into your lungs, which is how they cause problems. Negative ions also prevent static electricity and energize the air.

But because you need more than negative ions to truly purify the air, Surround Multi-Tech models incorporate a variety of air purification technologies to treat a broad range of pollution, including HEPA and carbon filtration, TiO2 filtration and ultraviolet lamps. more info

HEPA and Carbon Filter Air Cleaners

Surround Ti02 Multi-Tech Ionizers

Certain technologies are much better than others at removing different pollutants. With the Multi-Tech , you get the best of the most advanced air purification technologies on the market, all rolled into one air purifier: 1) an air ionizer to remove allergens, dust, dander and other particulates from the air, 2) a HEPA filter that traps 99.97% of particulate, 3) a germicidal UV light that destroys micro-organisms like germs, viruses, bacteria and mold, 4) an activated carbon filter that removes chemicals, gases, odors and cigarette smoke, and 5) Ti02 technology for VOCs and bacteria. more info

Airpura Carbon, HEPA and Optional UV

Airpura sets the standards for Carbon and HEPA (optional UV) air purification by incorporating all the design improvements you've been asking for, including an all metal housing in white, cream or black, that ensures no plastic vapors are emitted. The motor is located out of the air flow (most air cleaners blow the clean air over the motor and pick up impurities). Electrical parts in a sealed chamber out of the airflow, which increases safety and prevents off-gassing and the pressure sealed filter chamber prevents leakage of polluted air around filters. The felt gaskets seal the filter chamber to maximize filtration with no rubber off-gassing found with other filters. And a variable speed motor can be turned low for quiet operation or high to clean the air in a 2000 sq. ft. space in 30 minutes. more info

Hydrated PhotoCatalytic Oxidation

By using a broad spectrum, high efficiency UV bulb (HE/UVTM) to work with a hydrated quad-metallic target, the target acts as a catalyst for a hydroxyl radical reaction of the broad spectrum 100-300 nm HE/UVTM energy with water vapor on the hydrated target. The results are hydro peroxides, super oxide ions, passive negative ions hydroxides and ozonide ions, which create a very aggressive advanced oxidation atmosphere that has the ability to reduce airborne bacteria, mold and viruses up to 99% also odors and VOC's by up to 97%, and well as other types of indoor air pollution. There are two brands that utilize oxidation as the air purification method:

Air Oasis UV Oxidation Air Purifiers for Residential and Commercial

The Air Oasis™ air purifiers utilize state-of-the-art technologies unique to any product currently on the market today. Their AHPCO™ Cell (Advanced Hydrated PhotoCatalytic Oxidation Cell) is the next generation in catalytic oxidation. The AHPCO™ Cell technology is far superior to the older stand alone UV lamps and catalytic oxidation methods with only one catalyst used in competitor air purifiers. This is the latest advanced oxidation technology that consists of a proprietary, high-intensity broad spectrum UV tube in a hydrated catalytic matrix cell. Low-level ozone is produced in the cell, the majority of which is converted into airborne hydro peroxides and hydroxyl ions via the quad-metallic catalyst. The entire assembly is encased in a protective metal cell. These friendly cleansing ions treat your indoor air pollution (viruses, bacteria, mold, VOCs, etc.). more info

Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)

The TiO2 (titanium dioxide) photocatalytic action is achieved when combined with a properly balanced light source. This action reduces harmful microorganisms and odors that are constantly circulating through the air into harmless CO2 (carbon dioxide, which is expelled during respiration) and H2O (water), thus completely eliminating the microorganism and odors.

When a germicidal ultraviolet lamp is used with Ti02 as the sole catalyst, the reaction is the production of various oxidizers, including ozone. While that may be desirable for commercial applications, it is not desirable for inhabited spaces. California took the unprecedented action of banning ozone producing residential air purifiers (see list). We do not carry any air purifiers that produce ozone for residential use, but we do carry two models that are used for commercial and smoking applications (see Ozone Generators below) .

O•ZONELite™ TiO2 Air Purifier Light Bulbs

O•ZONELite™ TiO2 light bulbs are an amazing technological breakthrough! By coating an energy efficient light bulb with TiO2 (titanium dioxide), a non-ozone photocatalytic action occurs that effectively eliminates airborne bacteria, mold, viruses, fungi, smoke and household odors in rooms up to 10' x 10'.

The discovery of the proper binders enabled the manufacturer to combine the liquid compound of TiO2 (titanium dioxide) to a compact, energy efficient fluorescent light that will last for 6,000 hours. That is 8 times longer than the traditional incandescent light bulbs! more info

Surround Ti02 Multi-Tech Ionizers

Certain technologies are much better than others at removing different pollutants. With the Multi-Tech , you get the best of the most advanced air purification technologies on the market, all rolled into one air purifier: 1) an air ionizer to remove allergens, dust, dander and other particulates from the air, 2) a HEPA filter that traps 99.97% of particulate, 3) a germicidal UV light that destroys micro-organisms like germs, viruses, bacteria and mold, 4) an activated carbon filter that removes chemicals, gases, odors and cigarette smoke, and 5) Ti02 filter for VOCs, odors and bacteria. more info

Heat Sterilization

Heat can be used to sterilize indoor air by using a ceramic core that destroys 99.99% of all microorganism (spores, fungus, bacteria, virus, mold, dust mites feces and skeleton) are burned at temperatures around 400F (250ºC). No living microorganism survives this power. Yet this is done without significant heat contribution to the ambient. Because heat is a totally natural process, this technology doesn't employ chemical or toxic products such as glass filter fibers, triclosan-coated paper or any kind of material that can be harmful to the environment when wasted. Nor does it produce ozone, VOCs, nitrous oxide or nitric acid.

Airfree® Air Sterilizers

This product is excellent for children's room or for anyone who is chemically sensitive or allergic to ozone because it works based on a totally natural process: heat. Inside Airfree®'s patented ceramic core 99.99% of all microorganisms are burned at temperatures around 400F, which is done without significant heat contribution to the room. Airfree®'s breakthrough technology provides silent, effective operation, safely destroying 99.99% of all microorganisms that pass through it. Best of all, there is no maintenance required because Airfree® has no moving parts and doesn't need replacement filters or lamps. And it's energy efficient, using below 46 watts. more info

The Enviro 60, Airfree’s flagship model is arguably the most rigorously tested machine on the market. Several of the world’s most prestigious laboratories located in six different countries (USA, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Brazil, and Sweden) have tested Airfree’s effectiveness in “real life” conditions. All tests conducted have concluded similar results; that Airfree is extremely effective!

Ozone Generators

Ozone is a very powerful oxidizer that is very effective on certain contaminants (chemicals, smoke and odors, to name a few). Ozone generators should never be used in inhabited spaces because high levels of ozone can harm lungs, especially those of the very young, the very old or anyone with an impaired immune system. But ozone generators and ozone producing air purifiers can have their place. We carry two models that product ozone:

Surround Multi-Tech XJ-3000C

The Surround XJ-3000C has an ozone air sanitizer option and is very popular with smokers because they can run the sanitizer option when they have left the room. When the ozone option is turned off, no ozone is produced by the other technologies in this air purifier (HEPA filter, carbon filter, ions, Ti02 filter and a prefilter. more info

Air Oasis Ozone Generator

Ozone generators are not intended for occupied spaces, unless the occupants are the source of the severe pollution, as is the case in smoky bars, bingo parlors or other places that allow smoking. If used in occupied spaces, ozone generators should be used sparingly and operated only intermittently. If you are looking for a small commercial air cleaner, the Air Oasis Ozone Generator is for you because it weights only 9 pounds and is 17" x 4" x 6"; small but mighty! Air Oasis ozone generators can be used for home use as long as they are used appropriately. more info

Also see:

• Air Purifiers by Brand
• Air Purifiers by Problem

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