Poorly designed portable air purifiers can have a negative effect on indoor air. The impact of photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), plasma generation and microbial thermal inactivation has not been fully studied. We investigated primary emissions and secondary byproducts from the operation of six standalone air cleaners in a 20-m3 room-sized environmental chamber under realistic operation conditions. Levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ultrafine particulate matter (UFP), ozone and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined with clean chamber air and in the presence of a challenge VOC mixture. We also evaluated VOC and particulate matter removal efficiency. While some devices achieved significant removal efficiencies, others emitted high levels of ozone and several VOCs (e.g., 16 �g h-1 formaldehyde and 111 �g h-1 benzaldehyde,). A device emitting ozone also produced UFP (3x103 #/cm3, with a secondary organic aerosol yield of 1-5 %). Emission rates were used to predict typical indoor levels and evaluate occupant exposures.

Pollutant emissions from portable air cleaners relying on photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), non-thermal plasma and microbial thermal inactivation

248th National Meeting (2014)

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