Nasa Developed technology

Origin of RCI ™ technology

The history of PCO technology began in space with NASA in 1994 ...

When NASA began planning deep space exploration, including proposed manned missions to Mars, such as the Constellation Mission Program, in 2013 that required sustaining life in space for months and years.

But NASA had a problem ... before preparing for deep space exploration, NASA had to find an answer to the plants and vegetables that destroy ethylene gas on the space shuttle. Ethylene gas is the natural hormone released by plants and vegetables to indicate ripening. On land, it is naturally dispersed in the atmosphere, but in a sealed spacecraft, the buildup of ethylene becomes toxic so it will kill those same plants and vegetables if not removed.

And a solution was found ... NASA scientists developed a new eco-friendly technology called PCO photocatalytic oxidation to remove the buildup of ethylene gas. The PCO technology developed by NASA breaks down ethylene gas into harmless carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light in the presence of a titanium dioxide (TiO2) catalyst.

Further testing from NASA revealed that PCO technology not only removed the build-up of ethylene gas, but also destroyed all carbon-based impurities in the air such as bad odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mold, fungus, bacteria and viruses.

How does it work

Airpurtec® Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) technology generates two key purification technologies:

  • A plasma of positive and negative charges (H + and O2 -)
  • Oxidation products with a combination of hydrogen and oxygen compounds such as vaporized hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxides (OH-), superoxides (O2 -).

This replicates nature's purification process of using ultraviolet energy to activate a catalyst and convert water vapor to peroxide and hydroxyl. These powerful oxidants penetrate the cell wall and inactivate the microbe through the cell lysis process, thus changing the molecular structure and rendering the contaminant harmless. The result is the destruction of odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mold, bacteria and viruses.

Photocatalytic plasma of positive and negative charges is also known as cluster ions. As these electrical charges come into contact with water vapor (H2O), the water dissociates and hydroxyl radicals (HO-) are formed that break the membrane on the surface of the pollutant and cause the death of the pathogen. A similar process occurs with the dissociation of VOCs and only carbon dioxide and water vapor remain.

Advantages of PCO photocatalytic oxidation:

  • No residual contamination. It does not generate any type of waste
  • Without chemicals. It does not use chemicals like sprays or air fresheners.
  • No need to use filters.
  • Without generating ozone.
  • Ecological Low consumption and minimal maintenance.
  • Dramatically reduces contaminants immediately at the source.
  • Decontamination of air and surfaces.
  • Microbiocidal and sporicidal activity.
  • Non-toxic system safe to breathe.
  • No by-products or toxic waste.
  • No downtime.
  • Easy to install.
  • Reduces sickness and / or absenteeism of employees.
  • Substantial odor reduction.

* Our products are not medical devices and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.