Have you ever asked yourself, “What is the difference between air purification, air sanitization and air filtration?” New home growers often get the terms Air Purification, Air Sanitization and Air Filtration confused, but fortunately it is simple to clarify. These three terms aren’t all synonymous. However, air purification is the same as air sanitization, while air filtration is in a different category altogether. Filtration is defined by its use of filters. Filtration works by trapping airborne contaminants in a filter. Air Purification and Air Sanitization systems work differently. Instead, they neutralize and disintegrate spores at a subatomic level through cutting edge technologies like Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO).
A Guide Air Purification / Air Sanitization
The goal of air purification/ sanitization is simply to ensure clean air. That’s because clean air is crucial to promoting and maintaining cannabis plant health. Ensuring clean air in your cannabis grow is one of the best things you can do to prevent crop-ruining powdery mildew or other fungal spore outbreaks.
Because plant diseases like powdery mildew, botrytis, and blight are airborne, focusing on clean air strategies is paramount for cannabis growers. There are three types of Air Purification / Air Sanitization systems on the market and they each work by utilizing either Ozone, UV Light, or Photocatalytic PCO technology.
Unfortunately, Ozone is harmful to plants and humans according to the American Lung Association and American Heart Association. If you see the terms like “Activated Oxygen, O3, Hydrogen Peroxide Ions, and Activated Ions,” it is because manufacturers are attempting to disguise the word “Ozone.” We do not recommend using Air Purification / Air Sanitization units that employ Ozone or advertised “Activated Oxygen, O3, Hydrogen Peroxide Ions, & Activated Ions.”
Systems that employ UV Light unfortunately make themselves ineffective because of the low contact and dwell time of air that passes through it. The real kill % won’t lower the airborne microbial levels because of low amounts of air passing through.
Superior to Ozone and UV Light systems is Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO). AircoClean420 uses PCO and purifies and sanitizes the air better because of it. Plus, its chemical free and releases no ozone or toxic emissions.
How do AiroClean420 systems work?
To put it simply, each AiroClean420 unit uses a fan and a bio-conversion reactor bed that contains a catalyst to clean the air. As air is pulled through an AiroClean420 unit and reaches the bio-conversion reactor bed, the killing of spores, bacteria, and disease takes place. Powdery mildew, pollen, VOC’s, fungal spores and bacteria, all get destroyed on a subatomic level, which is about ten thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair.
The bio-conversion reactor bed uses a proprietary light source to excite the catalyst. As this happens, Hydroxyl Radicals form on the surface of the catalyst. Hydroxyl Radicals are powerful oxidizing agents. These Hydroxyl Radicals will oxidize anything organic in the air, with the only by-product being minuscule trace elements of water vapor and CO2.
With PCO, the Hydroxyl Radical produced is surface bound and aren’t emitted into the air. The main problem with Hydroxyl Radicals used in Ozone is that they are free-floating and oxidize anything it comes into contact with. This is not safe and commercially you’d need OSHA exposure limits. The permissible exposure limit (OSHA PEL) is a legal limit for exposure to a chemical substance / physical agent.
AiroClean420 is a state-of-the-art air purification system that is listed as an FDA Class II Medical Device. This is because all of its “kill” happens within the bio-conversion reactor bed with zero harmful emissions. Clean and safe air in cannabis grows really can be possible with AiroClean420. Listen to a podcast interview with AiroClean420, visit www.airoclean420.com/airo-home-hobby-grow or call (844) 247-3913 to learn more.
A Guide To Air Filtration
HEPA Filters and Carbon Filters are both used in cannabis cultivation regularly. Carbon Filters capture odors and HEPA Filters capture spores and contaminants. These popular filters have significant benefits and some limitations to consider. As a rule, all filters need filter-replacements depending on your space’s dust load. Replacements can be monthly, quarterly, bi-yearly, or yearly.
HEPA Filters
HEPA Filters (True 100 % HEPA) will capture bacteria, mold, mildew, dust, etc., but a 100% HEPA filter is high-end, hospital grade, and very expensive. Other less effective filters marketed to home-growers as “HEPA” are non-hospital grade filters. Look for the % of HEPA labeled.
Carbon FiltersCarbons Filters are for people trying to prevent the aroma of cannabis from wafting into their neighbor’s yard. They are often put on exhaust fans and fans standing in the middle of your grow to mitigate cannabis smell. Not all home growers get concerned with the smell of cannabis, but if you are one of them, carbon filters are the solution for you.
With proper maintenance, carbon filters are remarkably efficient at removing cannabis odors from your grow room or tent. One problem with carbon filters is that when the filter has exhausted itself, it releases everything it absorbed from the air back into your grow. To prevent this, you must change filters regularly.
Some air filtration systems in commercial cannabis and agriculture actually come with both HEPA and carbon filters. Nevertheless, there are limitations with filters to be mindful of.
