What are the Various Types of Air Purifiers?

By | January 27, 2011

Air purifiers are involved in removing any particulate contaminants in air. Air purifiers are found to be beneficial to asthma and allergic patients. However, it can be used at various places to ensure the health of individuals. There are different types of air purifiers. They are:

  • HEPA Filter Air Purifiers
  • Ozone Air Purifiers
  • Ionic Air Purifiers
  • Carbon Air Purifiers
  • Ultraviolet Light Air Purifiers

HEPA Filter Air Purifiers:
A cloth type of filter is used in HEPA filter air purifiers. 99% of particles of 0.3 microns size or greater, can be filtered by these purifiers. These are efficient purifiers and can remove harmful particles from air. A replaceable filter is present in the purifier that can be replaced after long period of use. These filters can trap allergens. However, chemical fumes, gases, odors, and cigarette smoke cannot be trapped by HEPA filter air purifiers.

Ozone Air Purifiers:
Ozone can destroy many bacteria and chemicals. Ozone is released into the air by ozone air purifiers. These purifiers are effective against odors, bacteria and chemical fumes. However, they cannot remove allergens. But one disadvantage of using them is that, ozone in combination with some chemicals might result in creation of pollutants.

Ionic Air Purifiers:
Ionic air purifier contains collection plates having an opposite charge from the particles in the air. This helps in attracting the oppositely charged particles to the collection plates. The two oppositely charged particles wind up sticking together and fall out of the air. The materials do not get stuck to the collection plates but are left into the air. They get settled down in air as dust. So when these purifiers are provided with a special filter system, they can also remove the dust. Extreme fine particles which are at larger distances from the purifier can be removed by ionic air purifiers. However, they cannot remove odor.

Carbon Air Purifiers:
Activated carbon having high adsorbent quality is used in carbon air purifiers. The particles and odors get bonded with the activated carbon while passage of air through the filter. Much smaller dust particles can be purified by this air purifier. Chemicals, gases, smoke and odors can be eliminated by them but not allergens or microorganisms.

Ultraviolet Light Air Purifiers:
Microorganisms including germs, bacteria, viruses, and molds are sterilized by ultraviolet lamps. A combination of UV light lamps with HEPA filters can be helpful for trapping the microbes in air and sterilizing them by UV lamps. This air purifier acts against microorganisms which cause certain diseases. However, allergens, odor, smoke, and chemicals cannot be removed.

Apart from these there are certain other types of purifiers which use hydroxyl radicals in the filters which are powerful cleaning agents. Any category of pollutants can be removed by these filters in combination with UV light and negative ions.

According to the need, the consumer can choose any of the above specified purifiers.