| abstract |
A method and apparatus is described for neutralizing airborne pathogens and chemical toxins in ventilated air, and in heating or air conditioning systems. The pathogen-chemical toxin neutralization system is effective against a wide spectrum of pathogens and toxins, it incorporates commercially available components, and it can be readily integrated into commercial HVAC systems where it decontaminates large volumes of ventilated air in real time without any chemical reagents. The system has a flow-through reaction chamber ( 101 ) that contains a UV light source ( 106 ) that emits short intense flashes of broad-spectrum UV light, a source aqueous hydrogen peroxide that can be a reservoir or a hydrogen peroxide generator ( 106 ), and optionally a source of ozone. The interaction of UV light and hydrogen peroxide generates hydroxyl radicals that neutralize pathogens and chemical toxins as they pass through the reaction chamber ( 101 ) in real time. The pathogens that can be neutralized by this system include bacteria, viruses, spores, fungi and parasites. |