The MorphAir 36W is the original unit designed by Morphic Envirotech Inc. to offer near clinical-level cleaning of the air in your home or office. By combining our Photocatalytic Elements with UV-C (ultraviolet) light, we've created a desktop unit that destroys all germs, viruses, molds, and allergens, that are in the air that flows through it. Those people with asthma or allergies will notice an improvement in their symptoms when using the MorphAir 36W in their own homes. It is also a perfect solution for those people that simply want cleaner air indoors to help reduce the spread of airborne illness.

Indoor Air Quality Issues

In developed countries, people can spend up to 90% (or more) of any given day in an “indoor” environment that includes the home, office, and vehicle.  With limited outside air supply, the indoor air can be many times more polluted/contaminated with various pathogens/allergens than the outdoor air.  The “downside” of improved energy efficiency and humidifiers in buildings is that the resulting indoor environment, controlled for human comfort, is also ideal for growth of bacteria, fungi (molds), and viruses.  In addition, “off-gassing” from synthetic materials used in construction, furniture, floor and wall coverings, cleaning fluids, and solvents, increases the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs or "odours") in the indoor air.  As stated, limited air exchange in a warm, humid environment is ideal for fungal, bacterial, and viral growth.  High concentrations of any airborne pathogen, allergen, or respiratory irritant (e.g., cigarette smoke, pet dander, pollens, etc. ) may exceed the tolerance levels of one or more occupants resulting in the “sick building syndrome” or "building related illnesses", as documented in many publications (Google "Sick Building").

UV Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI)

The UV-C band of the ultraviolet spectrum is germicidal.  Germicidal UV irradiation (UVGI) progressively kills/deactivates any DNA-based organisms, depending upon the cumulative dosage.  Therefore, exposure time and UV-C intensity are both important to germicidal effectiveness.  A dosage of 3,000 microWatt-seconds/cm2 is sufficient to kill/deactivate up to 90% of many common microbes.  Viruses are much more susceptible to UVGI than bacterial or mold spores, due to their much larger surface area to volume ratio.

Destruction of VOCs (Odours)

Photocatalysis Background: Chemical reactions induced by electromagnetic radiation (usually “light”) fall in the domain of “photochemistry”.  Where the induced reactions involve a “light-activated” catalyst, the process is called “photocatalysis”.  Photosynthesis (the process by which plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into complex carbohydrates and oxygen) is a natural photocatalytic process.  During the 1980’s and 1990’s intensive scientific and commercial activity followed the discovery that ultraviolet light shining on photocatalytic materials produced free-radical species and positively charged “holes” at the photocatalyst surface that aggressively and efficiently destroyed organic molecules, converting them into carbon dioxide and water (the reverse of photosynthesis).  This process is commonly called photocatalytic “oxidation” or “PCO” even though both oxidation and reduction occur.

The efficiency of the PCO process is dependent upon (a) the wavelength and intensity of the UV light, and (b) the surface area of photocatalyst exposed to the UV light.  Morphic Envirotech Inc.'s proprietary photocatalytic technology (patent applied for) eliminates the requirement for conventional, expensive, disposable carbon/charcoal/permanganate filters (as discussed below).

Applied Photocatalysis:  Air supplied to “environmentally sensitive” individuals is often scrubbed with high efficiency particulate air (“HEPA”) filters in combination with VOC absorbers and/or chemical oxidizers.  These components become saturated or exhausted and are expensive to replace (sometimes as frequently as every two weeks).  Morphic Envirotech Inc.'s photocatalytic reactor system can operate for years with much less operator intervention and expense than filter systems, discussed above.  The photocatalysis technology acts like a “lightning strike” at the molecular level (“nano-scale”), destroying both microbes and odours (not "trapping" like filters).

Germicidal UV-C irradiation alone kills all microbes with sufficient exposure (dosage).  The lethal UV-C dosage required to kill is enhanced by combination with PCO.  VOCs (odours), on the other hand, require photocatalysis for destruction.  Continuous circulation of indoor air through the MorphAir 36W™ reactor will continuously reduce ambient levels of microbes, allergens, and VOCs.  No air purifier will stop the "source" of either airborne pathogens or odours.

Ozone: Morphic Envirotech Inc. utilizes Philips TUV low pressure mercury lamps.  "Philips is the largest manufacturer of standard low pressure mercury lamps.  These Philips TUV lamps consist of a tubular glass envelope emitting short-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation with a peak at 254 nm (UVC) for germicidal action.  The Philips in-house made glass filters out the 185 nm ozone forming line thus preventing the creation of ozone." (See Philips TUV PL-L published documentation).

Even though UV-C bulb manufacturers represent that "no" ozone is generated by their UV-C bulbs, there may be a "trace" odour of ozone that is just at the limit of detection, by a sensitive nose, i.e., ~5 ppb (parts per billion of air).  This is well below generally accepted exposure limits.

Filtration

Air flow through the MorphAir 36W™ unit first passes through MERV 14 pre-filter media that remove particles down to the 1 micron range.  The primary function of the disposable pre-filters is to ensure that the photocatalytic reactor elements are kept clean.  This is essential for the effective operating function of the unit.  Any microbes (and in particular, viruses), which get through the pre-filters, have very large surface area to volume ratios, and, therefore, will be destroyed by the UVGI/PCO reactor.

FEATURES & ADVANTAGES:

• Quiet operation combining filtration, UVGI, and PCO.
• No maintenance brushless AC motorized impeller.
• Low power consumption (maximum 0.61 A, 69 W).
• Low electromagnetic radiation levels (safe for table-top mounting).
• Permanent photocatalytic reactor replaces need for disposable carbon filters.
• High ultraviolet germicidal irradiation intensity: 36 W (11 W UVGI).
• Multiple safety features:
  • Restricted-flow pre-filter warning (high speed only, flashing red filter light).
  • Plugged pre-filter unit shutdown (solid red filter light).
  • Fan failure, unit shuts down (solid red fan light).
  • Light failure indicator (solid red bulb light; fan continues to operate).
• Aesthetic and a convenient portable size.
• Self-powered for both forced air and non-forced air climate-controlled homes.
• CSA certified.
• Five Year Limited Warranty.