![]() This is a slightly different technology called PECO. If I had to go back and pick one right now, I would choose Molekule. I am going to go with Molekule if I try another brand of PCO air purifier (more on them below). The other drawback is that the amount of titanium dioxide is quite minimal so it may not be producing as many hydroxyl radicals as other PCO units. (Anyway, all air purifiers offgas a little). I’m happy with it offgassing within two weeks. Not everyone thinks so or would notice this. What I don’t like about it is that the unit itself offgasses a little bit (I am extremely sensitive). Replacement parts are reasonably priced ($25 bulb every year, $35 titanium dioxide screen every 5 years – for the PCO related parts).Noticeably brings down odors in new apartment and new cargo trailer.The PCO component has true UV and titanium dioxide.I like that it has all three main air purification methods for a good price. PCO actually breaks down molecules including molds and mycotoxins. (Ozone can as well, but it is very risky, I have a post all about ozone). PCO and carbon are the main technologies used to reduce odors and VOCs. True HEPA and activated carbon capture dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, bacteria, mold spores, dust mites, and odors including VOCs. If you’re looking at HEPA filters that don’t include PCO, and filters that help with high levels of VOCs, the post on filters for VOCs will be more relevant. HEPA filters do capture some mold spores and this article does include filters that include both PCO technology and HEPA, though the main focus of this article is on PCO. My focus was on the technology itself, and what studies based on that technology show us, and to remember that there are only a few types of air purifier technologies out there – their claims need to fall into one of a handful of categories. I would say most companies are exaggerating claims. ![]() What did shock me when I did the initial research is that smaller air purifier companies get away with outrageously false claims since no regulatory body even has time to get to them. 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 Winter 2022/2023 PCO Air Purifiers – Which Ones Reduce Mold and Which Ones are a Scam Emergency Housing for Chemical and Mold Sensitivity.How I Recovered from Chemical Sensitivities.How “High Performance” can Help Prevent Mold.
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