The UV-C light technology in GermGuardian air purifiers works in the following ways:
1. UV-C light is used to sanitize and disinfect the air as it passes through the purifier. The UV-C light is typically placed in a chamber inside the air purifier[1][3].
2. As air is drawn into the purifier, it first passes through filters to remove larger particles and pollutants. Then the filtered air is exposed to the UV-C light[3].
3. The UV-C light, which has a wavelength of around 254 nm, is able to destroy or inactivate microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and other pathogens by damaging their DNA structure[1][2][3].
4. This process is known as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). The UV-C light breaks down the DNA of microorganisms, rendering them unable to reproduce and spread[2][3].
5. The UV-C light is contained within the air purifier unit, so there is no direct exposure to people or pets in the room[4].
6. The combination of filtration and UV-C light provides a “double-barrier” approach to air purification – particles are trapped by filters while microorganisms are inactivated by the UV light[5].
7. GermGuardian air purifiers typically use low-pressure mercury lamps to generate the UV-C light, which is effective at destroying a wide range of airborne pathogens when given sufficient exposure time[6].
8. The effectiveness depends on factors like the UV light intensity, exposure time, and air flow rate through the purifier. Higher intensity and longer exposure generally increase pathogen inactivation[5][6].
So in summary, the UV-C technology acts as an additional sanitizing step after filtration to help eliminate harmful microorganisms from the air as it circulates through the GermGuardian purifier. This can help reduce the spread of airborne pathogens in indoor spaces.
Citations:
[1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/uv-air-purifier
[2] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phpp.12605
[3] https://uvcare.net/how-do-uv-light-air-purifiers-work/
[4] https://oransi.com/blogs/blog/uv-light
[5] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9735963/
[6] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8683362/