Air Cleaner

Air cleaner is a term that applies to air purifiers and air fresheners that use some process to physically clean the air. This isn’t to be confused with traditional air freshener sprays that simply mask the bad odor in the air by fragrant methods. Air cleaning is the chemical or physical removal, or filtering of dust, chemicals, allergens, germs, bacteria and smoke from the atmosphere.

With air fresheners, which are mainly to make the atmosphere smell nice, there really is only one method of actually cleaning the air, and that is through absorption. Substances like silica gel, or activated coal can be put in to the spray or the device fixed in the room, and the chemicals absorb certain pollutants in the air; however despite marketing methods these are not very efficient.

Air purifiers on the other hand are specifically designed to filter, clean and “purify” the air and are great for those suffering with asthma or other breathing problems, or those that live with a heavy smoker and don’t wish to breathe it in themselves.

There are several methods of cleaning the air. These include basic filtering. In other words a cause or grate is present in the unit that sucks in and prevents larger particles from escaping; only letting out the good air. These are not very efficient though. Absorption methods similar to air fresheners can be used, but on a much grander scale. An example of this is activated carbon that can chemically suck in certain chemicals and dangers from the atmosphere and keep it locked in the carbon of the machine. Other techniques include oxidization to help the oxygen flow in the air, electrically ionizing bad particles out of the air, and Ozone generating, which helps to oxidize chemicals from the air.

Air purifiers are used in industrially, commercially, medically and now in homes also.