Ionic Air Purifier

An ionic air purifier is a device that uses an air ionizer to filter dust, smoke, and other harmful particles from the air. An ion is an electrically charged molecule that can either have a negative or positive charge. Positively charged ions have one or more less electrons, while negatively charged ions have one or more extra electrons. Ionic air purifiers almost always produce negatively charged ions, allowing them to attract positively charged molecules.

How does an Ionic Air Purifier Work?

An ionic air purifier consists of a metal plate or needle that is charged with a high voltage of electricity. As electrons flow from the thick side of the needle to the narrow side, they get closer together. Because electrons naturally repel each other due to their negative charge, they build up pressure as they get closer. Eventually, the pressure becomes so great that the electrons simply jump off of the needle and attach themselves to the closest air particle. The air particle only becomes deionized when it comes in contact with a grounded object such as a wall or ceiling, leaving any dust or other residue behind.

Ozone

While ionic air purifiers can be very beneficial to any home, office, or workplace, they can also cause ozone poisoning if poorly designed. Ozone is a very toxic compound that is a derivative of oxygen. Though ozone is vital to the greenhouse effect and helps block harmful radiation from reaching the Earth’s surface, ozone is lethal to humans even in the smallest quantities. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, the highest acceptable level of ozone is 0.1 ppm (parts per million). Those purchasing an ionic air purifier should make sure that a reputable company manufactured the device and that the ozone output is lower than 0.1 ppm.

Advantages

Ionic air purifiers have several important advantages that similar technologies do not. They are more efficient than other air purification systems and do not require any special cleaning or filter disposal. Instead, ionic air purifiers contain collection plates that can be easily wiped down to remove residue. Ionic air purifiers are also very inexpensive when compared to other air purification systems, making them ideal for any budget. They are also extremely quiet and can catch even the smallest of particles.

Disadvantages

In addition to its advantages, ionic air purifiers have several disadvantages. For example, ionic air purifiers do not kill germs, but simply remove them from the surrounding air. Likewise, ionic air purifiers cannot remove odors from the air. They also have a limited range and must be set up in each room to have the same effect as other air purification systems. They can also cause ozone poisoning, as mentioned earlier.