That means you get a blog post on ozone generators.
I had a few questions about them. For one thing, do they rely on consumable inputs. This essay suggests they have a filter to keep dust out of the reaction chamber but other than that, all they use is dry air.
The next thought I had was that I would definitely buy one the next time Ebola is documented as being present in Mexico, the US or Canada.
My third thought was that investing in manufacturers of ozone generators (and UV emitting diodes) would be a good investment play if/when the day comes.
Ozone has the same issues other disinfectants have with particulate contamination. It takes time to penetrate and the disinfectant loses potency as it reacts with materials in the particle or thick layers of contamination.
Ozone can also play hob with dyes and polymers. Ozone also will beat the snot out of lung tissue if you are in the room.
The upside is that you can put an ozone generator in a room and diffusion is your friend. It will throw into every crack and behind every surface. You are not forced to rely on the work ethic of the people you hired.
I don't know much about Ozone generators except...sometimes we get " alerts" if ozone is too high . It is considered dangerous for some people. A quick google suggested HEPA filters instead. So ?? Follow up knowledge would be helpful
ReplyDeleteHigh Efficiency Particulate Air filters are filters, they trap small particles in the air flowing thru them. The particles are trapped (and concentrated) but otherwise aren't affected.
DeleteOzone (O3) is a powerful oxidant but can destroy viruses or bacteria by distrupting their outer shell.
Small particles infected with Ebola virus will eventually be disinfected by exposure to Ozone. They will be sequestered by a HEPA filter but will continue to be an infection hazard when the filter is changed out.
As Joe says, an ozone generator in a room is a great way to disinfect (and remove odors) from the space.
A great way to get rid of insects and arachnids infestations and if the previous occupants of the house were heavy smokers or crack users it will get rid of that too. Three days seems to be the standard length of time. Button up the building turn on the fan to the central HVAC and let it run.
ReplyDeleteOne of my jobs is driving for one of the national car rental companies, and we have one of these units which we use to de-smell cars that have been smoked in (tobacco and weed!) or have pet smells.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize until reading your post that it is not good for dyes or polymers. It is therefore surprising to me that my company uses them, given the amount of things in a car that are either dyed or made out of plastic. I suppose that one or two sessions with the ozone machine isn't too harmful over the time we have the car in the fleet, but if it was happening weekly it might become a problem.
You identified the issue: frequency of exposure. Heat and UV from the sun hit the car interiors every day. Running an ozone generator once or twice a year will only be a fraction of the impact on the life interior.
DeleteThis probably won't fit in the story either, but I've been meaning to bring up salt treated surgical masks. A couple of years ago a Canadian medical researcher made surgical masks that would actually kill virus by treating the filter layer with a salt solution. This article briefly explains how it works, and at the end there is a link to the academic paper.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.acsh.org/news/2017/01/12/virus-proof-masks-thanks-simple-chemistry-10722