The Chemistry of Air Purification

It's amazing to think that we've gone from having no idea what air is, to knowing its composition intimately, and even having the ability to filter what's in it. We have produced machines that can remove both pathogens as well as harmful small molecules from the air, and we have innovated those machines to the point where they are affordable enough for home use. How do these machines work? What do they do and do they do it? Let's break it down!

Check out "Is This Wi-Fi Organic?", my book on disarming pseudoscience!

[adleneboulebtateche]

Thank you, thank you, thank you Professor. Your chemistry course is wonderful. The best I've ever watched or read. Even the Intro video was very instructive, and what you said about learning chemistry should be said as an introduction to every science course ... because it is the very definition of science: "unless you fundamently understand molecules, all you can do is repeat things you've heard ... but how do you know if what you've heard is right ?". I fell in love with this quote and couldn't help but say it to all the people I know whose reasoning is medieval and not scientific (and there are many of them). I live in Algeria by the way.

[quintonthai]

My students are crushed about the haircut. They miss the hair. Love you and your videos dude, keep it up.

[PerthSurfer]

I've wanted to understand the science behind air purification. Thanks for the great video.

[victorandrescampillomexsen]

You have no idea how helpful all your videos were, I really think I now have a solid understanding of the basics of chemistry.

[bartoszjankowski]

Regarding HEPA Filters I would say this.

There are many myths and legends about air purifiers. Scientific research is not always consistent with the practice. To understand if air purifier with a HEPA filter can help fight against coronavirus, we must first understand how it works, and above all, its effectiveness.

If the manufacturer informs that the HEPA filter of a given class (e.g. Commonly used E12 or H13) removes 99.5 or 99.95 the percentage of particles with a diameter of 0.3 µm, this means that 0.3 µm are the most difficult to remove particles for this filter.

On the other hand, for both larger and smaller particles - due to their specificity it results in greater coping results.

It is wrong to claim that all particles below 0.3 µm somehow "squeeze" through the filter (such erroneous opinions can be found on the internet). Quite the opposite - HEPA filters perfectly capture particles as small as 0.01 µm, due to the phenomenon of molecular diffusion. This works more effectively on particles smaller than 0.2 µm.

On the other hand, inertia mechanisms give maximum confidence again from 0.4 µm. Hence in the range of 0.2-0.4 µm, the efficiency of the HEPA H13 filter reduces in laboratory and hospital conditions from 100% to 99.95%.

The coronavirus diameter ranges from 0.06 µm to 0.12 µm, therefore this is the size the HEPA H13 and H14 filters are a perfect solution to get rid of it.

We install the H14 class filter in SAFE AIR devices, whose minimum performance was documented with a testing result of 99.99803%.

It is very important to pay attention to the tightness of the filter itself to make the device actually clean the air, not intensify blowing unwanted particles around the room.

In the case of filters used in our devices SAFE AIR ensures 100% filter tightness laboratory confirmed.

If you have more questions, safeair.ae

[ttiigogo]

is this a low key ad for EnviroKlenz? :) Thanks for the video, I assume that carbon capture also uses a form of chemisorption but going to look into the details of that now.

[toodlican]

Awesome channel. So glad I stumbled on to it.

[mokie]

I always love when he explains why knowing all this stuff is so exciting and useful within humanity's history

[MiltosPol-qnzh]

Proffesor have you made a video on w/w, w/v and v/v calculations???

[let-me-use-kanji-in-handles]

Hey, can you do a course on crystallography? That would be very helpful.

[dapperdragon]

Ever considered some Dave Explains merch? Because I think that would be a fun way for people to support you

[Illvana]

I guess the only portion not covered about the enviroklenz is the cartridge disposal method. Is it still as environmentally friendly as using the device itself?
PS: Not trying to bring any negativity here, just trying to get some extra information on all angles. Great video, btw :)

[cerulyse]

Apparently HEPA filters do you remove smaller particles as well a common misunderstanding

[victorandrescampillomexsen]

thanks for making learning enjoyable !!

[tamarakepreyeomgbuayakimi.]

thanks prof dave am kepris from nigerian

[krishnarajpalghat]

Learnt something new today
Thanks for it man😉👍

[Zaphods-Third-Arm]

Oddly enough I not long ago bought an air purifier, hoping it would reduce dust in an aid to cleaning and for pollen removal..
Had I seen this when you uploaded it I'd have bought one earlier.

[pratyasha]

What could you say are some CONS of the chemisorption method for EnviroKlenz Adsorptive Surfaces?

[IchigoFurryModder]

Dave: The most important substance to our existence is oxygen.
Quarks: Are we a joke to you?

[aquaticsplashes]

I feel like this is more relevant than ever