Ionic Air Purifiers

Ionization itself is a 100-year-old technology. When applied to air purification, ions interact with and deactivate contaminants such as viruses & bacteria, mold, allergens, VOCs, and odors, creating a healthier living environment to improve well-being.

Everyone wants to breathe clean air. But with so many air purification technologies available, how do you choose the best air purifier for yourself and your family? One of the most effective ways to purify air is through a process known as air ionization.

Air ionization is one of the most sophisticated technologies for removing viruses, bacteria, mold, allergens, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors, and more. All ionic air purifiers (also called air ionizers) work by emitting ions that interact with and deactivate contaminants. Research suggests that ionization offers numerous benefits, including improved psychological health, productivity, and well-being.

When you're ready to embrace a healthier living or working environment and reduce indoor air pollution, consider an air purifier with bi-polar ionization. Keep reading to learn how ionization in air purifiers works and why you need an air purifier with bi-polar ionization for your home and workplace.

What is an Ionizer?

An air ionizer, or ionic air purifier, is a device that releases negative ions (molecules that contain an extra electron) into the air. Negative ions latch on to particles in the air, giving them an electrical charge. The electrical charge causes particles to clump together and become heavy, eventually falling from the air.

Understanding Air Ionization

Although all air ionizers use negative ions to clean the air, they don't all use negative ions in the same way. When it comes to ionic air purifiers like the iAdaptAir®, Bi-Polar Ionization is the key.

Bi-Polar® Ionization

Bi-Polar® Ionization works by using two charging poles – one negatively charged and one positively charged – to split water vapor into positively charged hydrogen ions and negatively charged oxygen ions.

When the hydrogen and oxygen ions draw back together in an effort to reform into H20 molecules, they also attract airborne particles like dust, pet dander, allergens, mold spores and even droplets containing viruses. Ion generators that use Bi-Polar® Ionization ultimately cause the particles to grow too heavy and fall to the ground.

Ionic Air Purifiers and Particulate Matter

Air ionizers address a pollutant known as particulate matter, which is any solid or liquid particle suspended in the air, contaminating air molecules. Particulate matter is a dangerous type of air pollution that is easily inhalable and can come from a variety of sources, including fields, fires, roads and construction sites.

Particulate matter can include (but is not limited to) the following:

• Pollen
• Soot
• Smoke
• Liquid droplets
• Dust

Although some airborne particles are big or dark enough to see floating in the air (such as smoke or flecks of dust), some particles are too small to see. It's important to realize that just because you can't see particulate matter doesn't mean it isn't there. Running an air ionizer or air purifier is an effective way to reduce indoor air pollution.

Health Risks of Particulate Matter

Breathing in particulate matter is dangerous to your health. Whereas bigger particles can irritate your eyes, nose and throat, smaller particles pose a more serious health risk. They can become lodged in your lungs and even enter your bloodstream.

Particle pollution can increase the risk for heart disease and has even been linked to lung cancer. Although it can affect anyone, breathing in a lung irritant like particulate matter is especially dangerous for babies, older adults and people with asthma. Air purifiers are an essential tool for improving indoor air quality.

Air Ionizer Technology

Air purifiers, especially air purification systems that contain a HEPA filter or carbon filter, can greatly reduce indoor air pollution. However, when it comes to deactivating particulate matter, an air ionizer is the better choice. Rather than trying to trap small particles in a HEPA filter or carbon filter, an air ionizer simply deactivates and removes them from the air.

Air Ionizers for Allergy Sufferers

For allergy sufferers who are reluctant to open the windows for natural ventilation, running a high-quality ionic air purifier is especially important. An air ionizer or air purifier not only removes allergens like dust, mold spores, pollen and pet dander from the air, but also reduces VOCs that accumulate in spaces that lack natural ventilation.

Air Ionizers in Hospitals

In addition to being centers of healing, hospitals and clinics are also hubs of disease, just by virtue of inviting so many sick people into one place. As a result, many hospitals adopt additional protocols to prevent disease transmission. One of the most effective tools hospitals use to manage sickness is the air ionizer.

Research suggests that some air ionizers and air purifiers not only reduce airborne contaminants, but can also help sanitize plastic medical equipment like ventilator tubes. Their ability to harness electrostatic charges for both air purification and surface sanitation makes ionizer air purifiers a valuable resource for medical facilities of all kinds.

Air Ionizers for Paint Companies

When paint is applied, it releases VOCs into the air. Although most of the VOCs are released by the time the paint dries, some VOCs remain in the paint for years and are released over time. Paint acts as a lung irritant and is one of the many home improvement items that can contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Painters, whether they work primarily on cars, buildings or something else entirely, are at higher risk of inhaling VOCs than many other workers. Luckily, there is evidence that some air ionizers and air purifiers can dramatically reduce paint particles in the air, as well as VOCs on a freshly painted object.

Air Ionizers for High-Tech Manufacturers

An air ionizer can do more than reduce airborne contaminants; it can also help control air ions and reduce static electricity. For manufacturers of high-tech devices, ionizer air purifiers provide an invaluable service by stabilizing the air in their working environments.

Creators of technology like disk drives and flat panel displays rely on air ionizers to control static charges at multiple stages of production. An air ionizer can help control air conductivity and achieve charge neutralization by releasing charged ions into the air.

Air Ionizers for Airborne Viruses and Germs

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, air purifiers offer a promising technological response to disease transmission. Research suggests that an air ionizer can effectively reduce airborne bacteria and viruses like influenza, as well as slow the spread of infection.

Studies indicate that Air Oasis ionizing air purifiers, like the iAdaptAir, can remove germs and bacteria from the air, as well as from some surfaces. As a result, many schools, research institutions, childcare facilities, medical facilities and homes have adopted our ionizer air purifiers to ensure cleaner, safer indoor air quality.

Best Ionic Air Purifier

With so many air purification technologies to choose from, it's important to understand which features differentiate ionizer air purifiers from other other air purifier products. Ionizer air purifiers have the following benefits:

• Ion generators are generally fan-based.
• Ion generators are usually filterless.
• Ion generators tend to be more low maintenance than other air purifiers.

Consumers interested in buying an ionic air purifier will find many options online. However, it's important to understand that not all ion generators are equally effective or provide the same level of indoor air quality. Each Air Oasis air purifier employs a unique, research-based technology combination – both bi-polar ionization and HEPA filtration that's been rigorously tested in third-party labs.

Here's an overview of widely available ionizer air purifiers and their features:

What to Look for in an Air Ionizer

At the end of the day, the most important function of an air ionizer or air purifier is to provide cleaner indoor air. However, some air ionizers and air purifiers are much more efficient, compact and quiet than others. If you're shopping for an air ionizer, it's important to understand which features are must-haves and which features are bonuses.

Air Ionizer Must-Have Features

• Air ionizers must have ionization technology that produces effective negative ions without excessive ozone production.
• Air ionizers must have adequate emission of negative ions to deactivate contaminants in both the air and on surfaces.
• Air ionizers must have the correct rate of ion production per hour, relative to space size.

Air Ionizer Bonus Features

• Some air ionizers perform well in both small and large square foot ranges.
• Some air ionizers issue maintenance reminders or alerts.
• Some air ionizers offer multiple fan speeds.
• Some air ionizers run very quietly or silently.

Alternatives to Ionic Air Purifiers

If you've ever researched ways to get cleaner indoor air or replaced air conditioners' filters, you've probably encountered the idea of air filtration. Air filtration is a popular air cleaning technology that traps contaminants, usually in a replaceable filter. In comparison to other air purifier products, air cleaners that rely primarily on filtration offer several unique benefits and disadvantages.

HEPA Filters

In the world of air filtration, a HEPA filter is synonymous with quality. High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can theoretically remove 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles that are at least 0.1 microns in size.

HEPA filters work by trapping contaminants. Air purifiers draw in air and push it through the fine pleated HEPA filter. Clean air passes through tiny openings in the HEPA filter, but pollutants become trapped. People who use an air cleaner with a HEPA filter must periodically change the filter to maintain efficacy.

Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters are another popular type of filter used in air purifiers. Most people don't realize that activated carbon filtration can trap particles even smaller than those captured by HEPA filters - a useful characteristic for anyone worried about small particulate matter pollution. Activated carbon filters are especially adept at trapping gasses, smoke, VOCs and viruses.

The downside to an air cleaner that relies primarily on a HEPA filter or activated carbon filter is that air flow is somewhat restricted, due to the filters' tight pores. That's why HEPA filters are not generally recommended for air conditioners or HVAC systems. Additionally, an air purifier that relies primarily on a HEPA filter will require regular filter replacement.

Filtration vs. Ionization

IIn contrast, ionizer air purifiers clean the air by emitting negative ions that interact with contaminants in any indoor space. An air ionizer can even emit negative ions that attract airborne particles and cause them to drop from the air. For this reason, ionizer air purifiers are highly versatile and don't require filter replacement or strategic positioning to work properly like other air purifiers do. However, some ionizer air purifiers are also ozone generators, so it's important to research how much ozone a particular air ionizer emits.

Unsure of which air purification technology will work best for you? Luckily, you don't have to choose; filtration and ionization work extremely well together. That's why Air Oasis offers the iAdaptAir®: a smart air purifier that provides the full spectrum of air purification, including HEPA, carbon, UV and ionization technologies.

Interested in a smart air purifier that utilizes all of the top air purification technologies? The Air Oasis iAdaptAir® HEPA Air Purifier combines the power of activated carbon, HEPA, UV light and two types of ionization. The iAdaptAir® comes in three sizes, the largest of which cleans air in spaces up to 850 square feet. Completely controllable from a smartphone app, the iAdaptAir® is sleek, easy to use and exceptionally quiet.

Interested in Air Oasis air purifiers but live outside of the United States? That's not a problem; we ship our air purifiers all around the world. If you have questions about air ionizers, the ionization process or other Air Oasis air purifier products, contact us online or give us a call at 806-373-7788.

What's the Best Air Purifier for You?

Proven effective in lab tests against viruses, bacteria, mold, allergens, VOCs, and odors, Air Oasis air purifiers improve indoor air quality and help you live a healthier life. Still not sure which air purifier is right for you?

Click below to go to our air purifier comparison page to find your best air purification solution.