The chemistry behind Airora

Pathogens

Bacteria, Viruses and Vegetative Spores (Mould)

 

Hydroxyl radicals (hydroxyls) are lethal to all harmful viruses, bacteria and mould, for example Coronaviruses, MRSA, C.difficile, Salmonella, Norovirus, and Flu Virus, both in the air and on surfaces.

The hydroxyl cascade created by Airora condenses and preferentially coats the surface of viruses, bacteria, particles and surfaces in general with abundant hydroxyls which rapidly inactivate the underlying bacteria, viruses and moulds.

Harmful bacteria succumb to hydroxyls because, being extremely small, hydroxyls are able to pass through the outer cell walls and oxidise the highly sensitive third membrane responsible for electron transport, rendering the whole organism non-viable.

Harmful viruses succumb to hydroxyls as hydroxyls disrupt their lipid envelope and/or protein shell and penetrate their interior, thereby disrupting their genome (RNA/DNA content).

Hydroxyl radicals are incredibly reactive and, as the Airora process produces a never-ending supply, even clumps of cells, thick layers and heavy cell walls (such as TB and spores) will eventually succumb. 

Humans, animals, insects and even normal skin flora have evolved within an environment rich in hydroxyl radicals and are therefore immune to their actions.

Tests at the UK Government’s Health Protection Agency’s Centre for Emergency Preparedness & Response at Porton Down have shown that exposure to hydroxyl radicals created by our technology:

• Destroyed 99.9999% of airborne MS2 Coliphage in less than 5 minutes.
• Destroyed 99.999% of airborne Staphylococcus Epidermidis in less than 2 minutes.
• Destroyed 99.9999% of surface concentration of MRSA on glass over a 24 hour period.

COVID-19

US CDC confirms that the hydroxyl diffuser’s ability to inactivate MS2 Coliphage means that it will inactivate all types of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in levels 1 – 4 of the Spaulding Classification model, including all those in the coronavirus family. We are not aware of any pathogens which will not ultimately succumb to hydroxyl radical attack.

Bibliography

• B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and J. N. Pitts, Jr., The Chemistry of the Upper and Lower Atmosphere, Academic Press, San Diego, 1999.
• J. A. Logan et al. Atmospheric Chemistry: Response to Human Influence, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. (London) 290, 187 (1978).
• José L. Godínez Computational Study of the Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds by the OH Radical: An Exploration into the Molecular Realm California State University 
• Charles j Weschler and Helen C Sheilds Production of the Hydroxyl Radical in Indoor Air  Bell Communications Research 
• Michael S. Waring and J. Raymond Wells Volatile organic compound conversion by ozone, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrate radicals in residential indoor air: Magnitudes and impacts of oxidant sources  Atmos Environ 1994 
• Jesse H Kroll, Christopher Y Lim, Sean H Kessler, Kevin R Wilson Heterogeneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Organic Aerosol: Kinetics of Changes to the Amount and Oxidation State of Particle-Phase Organic Carbon J Phys Chem 2015 Nov 5

Allergens

Pollens, Non Vegetative Spores, House Dust Mites and Pet Dander

 

Allergens usually enter the respiratory system through the nose. Mast cells in the airways release mediators, which trigger the allergy attack. This attack is an overreaction of the body’s immune system to the invading allergens that have bonded with Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies present on the surface of mast cells.

This overreaction leads to a release of histamine which irritates the mucous membrane in the upper airways, manifesting itself, for example, through coughs and sneezes.

Hydroxyl radicals have been shown to reduce IgE-binding capacity of allergens through the degradation and modification of their tertiary structure and/or the induction of protein denaturation and/or aggregation. The resulting structure is no longer recognised by the body's immune system and therefore histamine and other chemical mediators are not released.

Bibliography

• Kawamoto S et al. Decrease in the Allergenicity of Japanese Cedar Pollen Allergen by Treatment with Positive and Negative Cluster Ions, International Archive of Allergy and Immunology, 2006, Vol.141, No. 4
• Kazuo Nishikawa et al. Exposure to positively and negatively charged plasma cluster ions impairs IgE binding capacity of indoor cat and fungal allergens, World Allergy Organization Journal 2016
• Garrison, Warren M. Reaction mechanisms in the radiolysis of peptides, polypeptides, and proteins Chemical Reviews. 87 (2): 381–398
• Singh, Juswinder Thornton, Janet M. Atlas of protein side-chain interactions.  Oxford: IRL Press at Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-963361-4

Ozone and Carbon Monoxide

Hydroxyl radicals have a strong tendency to remove (abstract) a hydrogen atom from organic species (RH) whenever possible. The organic radical (R) then reacts with oxygen (O2) to form organic peroxides (RO2).

On a global scale, OH reacts primarily with carbon monoxide (40%) to form carbon dioxide, around 30% of the OH produced is removed from the atmosphere in reactions with organic compounds and 15% reacts with methane (CH4). The remaining 15% reacts with ozone (O3), hydroperoxy radicals (HO2) and hydrogen gas (H2).

OH reacts with ozone according to

the following reaction mechanism:

OH• + O3 → HO4•

HO4• → O2 + HO2•

OH reacts with CO according to

the following reaction mechanism:

CO + OH• → CO2 + H

Bibliography

1. K. Riedel et al. Detergent of the atmosphere, Water & Atmosphere 16(1) 2008J.
2. J. Lelieveld et al. On the role of hydroxyl radicals in the self-cleansing capacity of the troposphere, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 4, 2337–2344, 2004 www.atmos-chem-phys.org/acp/4/2337/ 
3. S. Gligorovski et al. Environmental Implications of Hydroxyl Radicals, Chemical Reviews, December 2015

Pollutants & Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Including odours, formaldehyde, ammonia and ultra-fine particles

 

Hydroxyl radicals react within 20-60 milliseconds with VOCs and initiate a series of fast, free radical chain reactions that continuously decompose VOCs and their by-products, keeping air safe to breath. These reactions are thousands of times faster than the ionic reactions that characterise ionisation and plasma systems and a million times faster than ozone.

The cascade of secondary oxidants formed is more stable and circulates throughout the treatment area to complete the purification process. Oxidant and by-product concentrations are diluted to the safe levels found in nature, which range from 10-40 ppb.

By-products recirculate until they are fully oxidised – a process which “clips” off carbon atoms one at a time, forming carbon dioxide and water and, as smaller VOCs react more quickly, oxidation by-products like formaldehyde or acetaldehyde don’t accumulate.

Ultra-fine particles (less than 0.1 microns) are known to be potentially harmful to health, make up around 90% of all airborne particles and are too small to be captured by a HEPA filter.

Typically, about a half of ultra-fine particles are particle-phase organic carbon which are subject to heterogeneous oxidation by the gas-phase hydroxyl radical. The amount of particle-phase carbon decreases with oxidation, due to fragmentation (C - C scission) reactions that form small, volatile products that escape to the gas-phase. 

Bibliography

• B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and J. N. Pitts, Jr., The Chemistry of the Upper and Lower Atmosphere, Academic Press, San Diego, 1999.
• J. A. Logan et al. Atmospheric Chemistry: Response to Human Influence, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. (London) 290, 187 (1978).
• José L. Godínez Computational Study of the Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds by the OH Radical: An Exploration into the Molecular Realm California State University 
• Charles j Weschler and Helen C Sheilds Production of the Hydroxyl Radical in Indoor Air  Bell Communications Research 
• Michael S. Waring and J. Raymond Wells Volatile organic compound conversion by ozone, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrate radicals in residential indoor air: Magnitudes and impacts of oxidant sources  Atmos Environ 1994 
• Jesse H Kroll, Christopher Y Lim, Sean H Kessler, Kevin R Wilson Heterogeneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Organic Aerosol: Kinetics of Changes to the Amount and Oxidation State of Particle-Phase Organic Carbon J Phys Chem 2015 Nov 5

 

You can find out all about Airora at airora.com

And contact us at support@airora.com