![]() It has not surprised me (or really concerned me) that big brands have come under fire for some of their claims. With a high amount of hydroxyl radicals in a closed chamber experiment it will almost certainly break everything down (with enough time) into harmless molecules, but in a home with relatively high VOCs, the results could look different. Byproducts like aldehydes can be (and often are) produced as an intermediary product of PCO. The reason is that in real-life circumstances the chemical breakdown of VOCs is not a simple linear process. I have a different post on the best air purifiers for VOCs. ![]() Right from the first version of this article, which I published in 2017, I qualified PCO technology as best for mold reduction, not for VOC reduction. These molecules bind with and break apart pollutants into harmless molecules. ![]() In photocatalytic oxidation, UV light hits a catalyst, usually titanium dioxide, creating hydroxyl radicals (OH) and superoxide radical anions (O2–). Some people may be interested in its effects on breaking down viruses and bacteria as well (including SARS-2). I am really excited about this technology as something that can safely break down mycotoxins and odors. My interest in these air purifiers comes from first-hand accounts of this benefiting homes with low levels of mold and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and from the studies showing the eradication of mold and mycotoxins. Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) is a technology that breaks down mold, VOCs as well as some pathogens. Updated Fall 2023 PCO Air Purifiers – Which Ones Reduce Mold and Which Ones are a Scam
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