Air Purification
January 31, 2022

Fume Extraction with Activated Carbon

Treating Fumes with Granulated Activated Carbon

Granulated activated carbon is commonly used as a filter media to remove harmful fumes, odors, and gaseous compounds to improve indoor air quality. 

Humans have been using carbon filtration for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians were the first documented to have used carbon medicinally – to remove odors as the result of infection. Before this, it was used in the manufacture of bronze to remove impurities. Gas masks manufactured in WWI used charcoal filters to remove some of the deadly gases used in combat. 

Today, a primary usage for granulated activated carbon is in work environments where limiting exposure to toxic fumes can prove difficult. Effectively treating and removing fumes can mitigate the negative outcomes that are the result of long-term exposure – thereby protecting the health of a facility’s personnel and staff. 

Activated carbon is an effective filter media for removing harmful fumes and gases due to its ability to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants from the air. Activated carbon achieves this through the process of adsorption in which pollutants are trapped outside the pore structure of the activated carbon granules. 

In today’s post, we discuss in-depth everything you need to know about treating fumes with granulated activated carbon – including what it is, how it works, and what options are available to you based on your needs.

What is Granulated Activated Carbon?

Carbon (also known as charcoal) refers to what is left behind after incomplete combustion. Industrial processes of manufacturing activated carbon occur in a 2-step process. First, material from wood, coconut shells, or coal is carbonized in a vacuum until all organic compounds are volatilized – leaving behind the carbon. 

Next, high-temperature steam, air, or carbon dioxide is applied to “activate” the carbon. This makes the carbon more porous and vastly increases its surface area – allowing an increased number of places for which gas molecules can be trapped.

How does granulated activated carbon work?

Granulated activated carbon effectively filters harmful pollutants from the air via adsorption. 

This process is different from the similarly named absorption. The key distinction between adsorption and absorption is that in the process of adsorption – pollutants adhere to the outside of the carbon. This is in contrast to absorption, where pollutants are absorbed within the structure of the substance much like that of a sponge.

Activation of the carbon expands its surface area which is what enables more pollutants to adhere to the outside of the carbon in the process of adsorption. 

Why do we use granulated activated carbon to treat fumes?

Granulated activated carbon has proven to be effective at removing odors, impurities, and harmful gases historically so it would make sense (and there’s science to prove it) that it would make for an effective filter media to treat against harmful fumes and gases.

The vast surface area of activated carbon makes it a more effective filter media than other substances as the larger surface area creates more surface tension, thereby promoting adsorption of harmful gases to its surface. 

Granulated activated carbon filters are effective where other filters are not at removing harmful fumes and VOCs from the air. They will typically feature a bed of activated carbon to trap gases and harmful fumes to improve indoor air quality. 

There are some gaseous substances that some mechanical filters are ineffective at trapping. Mechanical filters are unable to remove unpleasant odors – so it is often the case that carbon filters are used in tandem with mechanical filters that remove fine particles from the air, to improve indoor air quality overall. 

Activated Carbon Filters in Commercial Places

In manufacturing facilities, regular exposure to harmful fumes can be difficult to mitigate. Depending on the types of substances being used in different manufacturing processes, exposure to fumes can negatively impact the health of facility staff and personnel. As such, a powerful and effective filtration solution needs to be in place to improve indoor air quality. 

This is where the use of carbon filters can come into play. While many facilities may already have existing and effective dust or mist collection systems in place, the mechanical filters used in these systems are unable to properly filter out harmful gases and fumes. 

Granulated Activated Carbon Solution for Your Unique Needs 

There’s no question that minimizing exposure to harmful fumes is paramount to ensuring the health and safety of your shop personnel. It is for this reason that Canadian-based Aeroex Technologies has engineered a solution capable of effectively removing harmful fumes to improve the indoor air quality of your work environment. 

The Aeroex team of professionals will assess your facility’s unique needs to offer a tailor-made solution for fume treatment in your indoor work environment. Models in our IRIS series of medical-grade air filtration systems are equipped with a dual-stage, high-performance odour control MERV8/carbon primary filter as well as a second-stage HEPA filter to effectively mitigate the impact of exposure to harmful fumes via ambient or source-capture filtration. 

We are also able to augment your facility’s existing ventilation systems you have in place with an air purification solution to improve indoor air quality. This can supplement any existing ventilation systems you have currently in place at the source but are looking to improve air quality across your facility.

To provide you with a quality solution, we recommend allowing Aeroex to assess your facility to offer an affordable and efficient air purification system that meets your facility’s unique needs. Having over 2 decades’ worth of experience, our team of professionals is here to ensure that your facility’s air purification system works effectively to remove fumes and promote improved air quality. To get started, contact Aeroex today.

Air Purification
November 12, 2021

Air Filtration System for Wood Shop

An overlooked hazard in any industrial woodshop is toxic fumes that come from the woods and the products you work with. Regardless of whether you operate an industrial woodshop or are a casual hobbyist, the danger of long-term exposure to toxic fumes from the wood you work with should not be taken lightly. 

In today’s blog, we further discuss the impact of toxic fumes in the woodworking industry and how Aeroex Technologies offers an engineered air filtration system that is capable of reducing toxic fumes from your woodshop facility.

Health Risks Associated with Toxic Fumes from Woodworking 

Wood Processing Fumes 

Exposure to toxic fumes can come directly from the constituents of coniferous trees such as cedar and pine woods. Wood dust particles is considered a Group 1 carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Specifically, exposure to fumes from wood dust particles can result in health issues due to the natural chemicals of the wood and substances in the wood i.e. bacteria, molds, pesticides, and fungi being released into the work environment as fumes. 

Wood dust particles emit fumes in woodworking processes such as sawing, routing, sanding, and other operations, freeing microscopic particles into the shop that can irritate the eyes, noses, and mouth of your shop personnel. Toxic effects will range depending on the species of wood. 

Long-term exposure to cedar and pine wood fumes can exacerbate the symptoms of respiratory conditions such as asthma, and in some cases, can result in the permanent damage of lung tissue. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, Western red cedar, in particular, has been proven to contribute to the development of asthma. Plicatic acid is a common allergen and exposure to red cedar wood dust that contains this acid is what can cause an asthmatic reaction.

Case Study: Dundalk Leisurecraft 

Aeroex Technologies offers the expertise needed to ensure that the toxic fumes emitted from woodworking businesses are reduced in the working environment. 

Canadian manufacturer, Dundalk Leisurecraft specializes in building rustic, solid wood indoor and outdoor furniture, saunas, tiki bars, gazebos, and more – all constructed from maple, pine, and cedar. Dundalk reached out to our team about finding a solution for dealing with the toxic fumes that were being emitted into their work environment – specifically, from working with red cedar. 

Dundalk had a working dust collector in place, but their shop personnel were experiencing some of the symptoms associated with toxic fumes from wood dust. Their existing dust collector system was effective at collecting wood dust particles, however, it was also circulating toxic fumes from the wood dust around their facility. They needed an air filtration system that was able to mitigate the exposure of their shop personnel to these fumes. 

The Aeroex team of professionals assessed their shop needs and installed 2 IRIS-200 Air Purification Units that use activated carbon filters for ambient air filtration to remove the fumes in their workshop and keep the air clean. After the installation of the IRIS-200 Air Purification Units, the Dundalk staff noticed that the smell of the toxic fumes, as well as their symptoms, were substantially reduced.

Wood Smoke 

Some woodworkers finish wood using fire in their facilities to create a sought-after charred wood or shou sugi ban inspired effect – however, finishing wood with fire can leave woodworkers exposed to the negative health implications of wood smoke. 

Wood smoke is notorious for containing thousands of irritants and carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Benzopyrenes – both of which are toxic to humans. Like the effects of exposure to wood dust, exposure to wood smoke can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation in addition to headaches and nausea. Long-term exposure to wood smoke can also worsen the symptoms of existing respiratory conditions such as asthma.

Case Study: Montreal Bagels 

Montreal-style bagel businesses authentically produce their bagels by hand and in-shop. Using wood-fired ovens to cook these bagels is what gives them their notable flavour. However, the untreated wood smoke released from these ovens can lead to large environmental and health issues without an air filtration system. 

Luckily, Aeroex Technologies offers experience working with Montreal-style bagel businesses that use wood-fired ovens to produce their bagels. Our line of IRIS and ARO air filtration systems can keep wood smoke emissions at bay – mitigating the environmental and health risks associated with their untreated release.

Wood Treatment and Finishing Products 

Wood treatment and finishing products commonly used in a woodworking shop can also lead to health issues. 

In wood treatment, there are certain pesticides used as preservatives to maximize the service life of the wood. Small amounts of treated wood chemicals can escape or leach from the treated wood. The number of pesticide chemicals released from the wood will depend on a few factors. However, working with treated wood in a shop will exacerbate the release of these chemicals into the work environment as wood dust fumes – exposing you and your personnel to its effects. 

Wood finishing products such as oil-based stains, varnishes, and shellacs emit fumes that contain harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can degrade the quality of air in the shop and negatively impact human health. Breathing issues, nausea, dizziness, eye and throat irritation, and headaches are all potential symptoms of exposure to the VOCs in the fumes when using these products. Long-term exposure to these products’ toxic fumes can also result in wood stain poisoning with symptoms that include a burning sensation, blurred vision, and collapse, and cancer in more serious cases. 

If you’re concerned about exposure to toxic fumes from wood treatment and finishing products in your woodshop, consider Aeroex’s line of IRIS air purification systems. As in the case of toxic fumes from wood processing, IRIS purification systems utilize activated carbon filters for ambient air cleaning to remove toxic fumes and improve indoor air quality in your workshop. Get a quote for an IRIS air purification system today!

Air filtration system for Toxic Oil Fumes in Woodshop

As you can see above, there are a myriad of ways in which exposure to toxic fumes can occur in the woodworking industry. Long-term exposure and improper precautions to fumes from wood processing, wood smoke, and wood treatment and finishing products can negatively impact the health of you and your shop personnel.

It is for this reason that a proper air filtration system is in place to remove the presence of these particles and protect you and your workers from the long-term effects of exposure to toxic fumes in the woodshop. 

Aeroex air purification solutions target toxic fumes that are common in many woodworking facilities. We use multi-stage filtration techniques that target the sources of air quality issues. Our systems are designed to capture the smallest particles with the highest efficiency, and our made-in-Canada devices are designed to maximize the lifecycle of your filters (important given the volume of toxic fumes produced in large-scale woodworking operations). 

Models in our IRIS and ARO series are capable of mitigating the impact of toxic fumes using ambient or source-capture filtration. Aeroex offers the ability to augment any existing ventilation systems you have with an air filtration solution. This can be an option when you already have some mitigation measures in place at the source, but wish to improve the working conditions across your shop. 

Given the various options and models, we recommend that Aeroex get to know your operation to make a recommendation about the most affordable and efficient options. With over 20 years of experience and a variety of filtration media to choose from, we can assess your woodshop’s unique needs and offer you a tailor-made solution to remove toxic fumes from wood processing, wood smoke, and wood treatment and finishing products from your facility. 

To get started, contact Aeroex today.

 

 

Air Purification Blog
October 6, 2021

Reopening Businesses Safely With Air Purification

Reopening Businesses Safely With Air Purification

Businesses are still navigating the unknown of operating in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, with changing public health policies and an evolving body of knowledge about the transmission of airborne viruses. Many workplaces have likely had to deal with some positive cases among their workforce, disrupted supply chains, or an abrupt change in reopening plans. With the economy entering new stages of reopening thanks to reduced case counts and increasing vaccination rates, there is now a need to pivot towards increased utilization of public spaces. The most successful businesses in this time will be those able to seize the opportunities of the new economy. Because COVID-19 and its variants cannot be eliminated altogether it is understood that reopening will carry residual risks related to the virus, and various methods of screening those COVID-19 risk factors are needed. As gathering restrictions are reduced and more workers and customers return to public places, new risks will emerge related to COVID-19 transmission and heightened expectations for workplace safety. Improving the ventilation of your business or public space with air purification will be a critical part of successfully adapting to this reality. 

Air Purification – Part of a Reopening Strategy

For a business owner or facility operator, there is no “silver bullet” to reopen. Instead, a suite of measures is needed to eliminate or mitigate the different threats of COVID-19. This is true for restaurants, shopping malls, offices, schools, medical centers, and other gathering locations. Air purification will be an important strategy when paired with other measures such as mask-wearing, social distancing measures, or hybrid work arrangements. Air purification will significantly reduce the risk of airborne COVID-19 transmission but is not a replacement for other public health measures or workplace best practices. The combination of strategies that you use in your workplace will depend on your operations but are likely to include a portable or industrial air purification solution given its effectiveness in reducing the transmission of airborne viruses. For example, check out our case study below on why the Ontario government is using HEPA filters like Aeroex’s as a way to scale back mask-wearing policy for low-risk cohorts.

What To Know About Air Purification for COVID-19 

Improving indoor air quality is a key way to reopen business safely because of how COVID-19 is transmitted. Per the CDC, viruses like COVID are transmitted when a contagious person breathes out droplets and very small particles that are carried through the air to recipients. Infections occur when this air is breathed in or received by other vectors. However, as reported by sources like the New York Times, medical-grade air purifiers (like those produced by Aeroex) with a HEPA filter can capture these small particles highly effectively. Particles that cause the virus are around 125 nanometers in size while a HEPA filter captures particles as small as 10 nanometers (the HEPA standard is 30 nanometers but a recent NASA study showed its highly effective past this). Therefore, deploying HEPA filter air purification systems like those produced by Aeroex in your workplace is an excellent strategy. Understanding the science of air purification and the root causes of COVID-19 transmission, buyers should be aware of claims from other technologies like UV lights that don’t prevent transmission – evidenced by recent controversies like the UV light recalls ordered by Health Canada.

How to Know What HEPA Filter To Use for Air Purification

While science shows the power of HEPA filters, the way they are deployed is important for success. There are many different public spaces in need of protection ranging from condo lobbies to the storefront of an independent business – in each case, the existing ventilation, air volume, and gathering size will be different. To prevent transmission, air needs to be purified at a rate that prevents particles containing the virus from staying too long in the air – this is measured by something called air exchanges per hour. To prevent transmission, an air purification system catered to your space must provide sufficient air exchanges. Aeroex is aligned with the ongoing research recommending ~6 exchanges per hour and uses tools like our volume calculator to propose the appropriate model with sufficient capacity. It is important to ensure that the HEPA filters used to provide this air exchange capacity, either using a larger unit or several small units where a large unit is not possible. Many companies claim to provide the HEPA efficiency, but not with the air exchanges you need. When deploying for locations with large open rooms, Aeroex typically uses models like our IRIS 4500, a unit that mounts into your existing ventilation systems and provides a primary MERV 8 carbon filter and a secondary HEPA filter with an efficiency rating of 99.97% at 0.3 microns. Other strategies include leveraging existing mechanical ventilation and choosing the right locations inside the room. If you do not have mechanical ventilation, we will help you to see a portable (non-mounted) model.

Case Study – Provincial Government Deploys 70,000 HEPA Filters in Ontario Schools

Medical grade air purification systems with HEPA filters like those designed by Aeroex are widely accepted as an industry best practice, which is why the Province of Ontario continues its deployment of HEPA filters in schools. To date, 50,000 have been deployed and another 20,000 are being deployed in time for the 2021 school year (as reported by Global News). The Province wishes to enhance the safety of schools and prevent the spread of COVID-19, using HEPA filters as part of a range of policies and measures. The Province is using air purification systems to enhance mechanically ventilated classrooms, as well as to provide standalone coverage in areas like cafeterias and gymnasiums that do not have mechanical ventilation. In the announcement by Minister of Education Stephen Lecce, highlights relevant to the case study included the following:

  • It’s another added layer of protection that recognizes that our youngest learners in this province will not be required to wear masks” – Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education
  • “Standalone HEPA filter units should be used in places where mechanical ventilation and improvements to ageing HVAC systems was difficult to achieve” – Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table

Aeroex is a proud contributor to the fight against COVID-19 and high-quality classrooms for Ontario children. Our IRIS system is popular among public workspaces and institutions, including education, medical, government, and commercial buildings. Even before COVID-19, hundreds of our units were deployed in school boards, colleges, and universities across Ontario (we are an Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace approved vendor). This has only increased due to the increased business case for deploying HEPA filters. To become part of Aeroex’s fight against poor air quality, contact us today to learn more about deploying our IRIS medical-grade air purification system. 

Air Purification
August 13, 2021

Industrial Odor Removal

Industrial odor control is a key determinant of a safe and healthy workplace and an indicator of the quality of your facility operations. In some industries, odors are a natural and important part of the business – examples here could include composting, cannabis cultivation, industrial food production, or wastewater treatment. In others, odors may arise as a result of equipment malfunction, incorrect batch ingredients, or other operational issues.

In each case, the odor has a direct impact on the products you distribute, the services your facility provides, and the way your staff and customers interact with your workplace. Odor is not always the first thing that comes to mind when industrial air purification is considered – often, issues like visibility, inhalation, and related safety concerns are top of mind. However, after consideration, it is clear that industrial odor control is necessary to maintain a safe and successful business. Therefore, attention should be paid to understanding your odor challenges and translating them to industrial odor control solutions.

Causes of Odor Issues

Odors are caused by volatilized chemical compounds traveling through the air. Typically, more volatile compounds have stronger bad smells. We smell odors when particles enter our nose, which usually occurs when odor molecules freely move through the air via diffusion (random movement in all directions, with a net flow from high concentration source areas to low concentration receiving areas). Sources of odor molecules may include cleaners, building materials, and aerosols. These particles tend to be incredibly small.

Odor control has been a source of some debate with 2020’s need to manage the COVID pandemic – some of the basic COVID control measures like masks do not mitigate odor – this is because odor particles are much smaller than those that cause COVID! Therefore, filtering the odor molecules that cause odor must be scaled to the causes of the odors themselves. Aeroex has a strong foundation in the science of odor causes and controls and has created an industrial odor control system (odor eliminator) matched to eliminate odors

Eliminate odors with our industrial Odor Control Solutions

The IRIS Series Medical Grade Air Filtration System optimizes indoor air quality, providing clean air by capturing the particles that cause odors, allergies, and other undesirable airborne contaminants like aerosols, particulate matter, microorganisms, and the previous discussed volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It accomplishes this through a highly engineered solution, recognizing that the particles that cause odor tend to be incredibly small (discussed above). Therefore, the filtration technique used needs to be small enough to eliminate those particles.

Our industrial odor control solution uses two progressive, powerful filters for removing odors. The first filter in the IRIS series is made of activated carbon, and as our primary filter, it has a MERV 8 rating (it will be followed by an even stronger filter in the second stage). Carbon fiber is an excellent odor eliminator because of its distinct ability to adsorb the particles it interacts with, chemically reacting and sticking to the filter. This is an important technique for odor control because it targets the root causes of odors rather than the odor itself. MERV 8 filters are excellent at targeting particles in the range of 3 to 10 micrometers – particles in this range typically include mold spores, dust, and cleaners – also known as the particles that commonly cause industrial odors!

The second stage filtration in the IRIS commercial odor eliminator machine is a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter with a 99.97% removal efficiency for particles with a size of 0.3 microns. This is the highest standard for air filtration systems and is referenced by guidance documents from leading organizations like the CDC. By removing larger particles first with the MERV 8 filter, the HEPA filter is then able to target the smallest particles that cause industrial odor.

To eliminate industrial odors you need an odor eliminator that efficiently filters the smallest particles, and the Aeroex commercial odor eliminator machine can do this at scale. Aeroex provides a range of models that are portable or can be centrally mounted, allowing you to employ source control solutions that are targeted odors nearby or ambient solutions that integrate into an existing HVAC system. The size of the unit will depend on the volume of your facility. Additional consideration could be given to how frequently you wish to cycle the air. Larger odor eliminators are often used where industrial odors are commonly associated with the workplace and occur throughout the building, such as a waste collection facility. Aeroex staff will advise on what unit is most efficient for you based on your operational context, but as a starting point check out our air purification requirements calculator for the IRIS system.

Trap odor molecules and Secure Your Workplace

Industrial odor control is an important issue, but the 2020-2021 pandemic has taught us that there are many other reasons to be concerned about indoor air quality in workplaces and public spaces. While industrial odor eliminators do not supplement government or public health guidelines, the medical grade status of the IRIS system means that it will minimize the presence of airborne infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The IRIS system is popular among public workspaces and institutions, including education, medical, government, and commercial buildings. Aeroex is proud to be able to support the efforts to fight COVID-19, with hundreds of our units being deployed in school boards, colleges, and universities across Ontario.

Evident from the discussion of the health benefits of medical-grade air purification is that there are many reasons to adopt an industrial odor control solution. As our awareness of workplace safety increases, so too does the need for air purification systems that attack the root causes of odors by filtering out the smartest particles. Aeroex achieves this while delivering a level of efficiency that helps to make an IRIS system a sound investment – our primary filters last 6 months and our HEPA filters last 3 years. The progressive filtration stages not only provide contaminant removal performance but also minimize the frequency by which you have to replace your HEPA filter. To learn more about industrial Odor control solutions, contact our team today.

Air Purification Manufacturing
3d Printing Fume Extraction
July 29, 2021

3D Printing Fume Extraction

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an increasingly popular technique for prototyping and additive manufacturing. The  ever expanding number of applications for 3D printing technology means the industry is expected to increase from $0.7 Billion in 2019 to $5.6 Billion in 2026. 3D printing can use a variety of materials including plastic, resin, ceramics, wood, metal, graphite, nitinol, and paper. Due to the diversity of 3D printing applications, the scalable nature of 3D printing technology and the rapid growth of the industry, every 3D printing company is likely to hit a point where the need for fume extraction becomes apparent. Similar issues surrounding fugitive fumes caused by various production and fabrication processes exist in comparable industries like laser printing, laser etching and laser cutting to name a few. For the majority of these industries, there is an alarming lack of awareness and education revolving around the negative health impacts attributed to fugitive fume inhalation in the production phase. Even though 3D printing is a fairly new idea, fume extraction is not. For more than 20 years, Aeroex Technologies has been at the forefront of developing mist and fume extraction products for the industrial and commercial sectors. With decades of experience and expertise in air purification systems, the team at Aeroex was able to modify and improve on already highly efficient filtration technology to meet the specific needs of the 3D printing industry. 

Challenges of 3D and Laser Printing

With many institutional and DIY newcomers to the 3D printing realm, health and safety is becoming an increasingly discussed topic. To understand the health hazards associated with fugitive fume inhalation, we must first understand where the fumes come from. In the process of 3D printing, filament reels are melted by the printer as it moves along the pre-programmed path. While heating and melting the material, fumes are generated as a byproduct of the process. The composition of the fumes will depend on the material being printed. Some of the most common materials like thermoplastic polymers (e.g. ABS) are known to emit styrene, a suspected carcinogen that also causes headaches, drowsiness, and fatigue. Some materials can be substituted to reduce the toxicity levels of fumes, but this does not discount that fumes will be generated regardless of material. 3D printing often takes hours and even days to complete a project, with machines running for a long time to print each layer. 3D printing is an incredibly powerful and scalable technology, but output rates should not be limited by health and safety concerns and you should not have to downgrade your materials from durable thermoplastics to reduce the risk of these fumes. Instead, an air purification system designed for fume extraction in 3D printing will allow you to safely continue your prototyping or manufacturing work without compromise to productivity or health. 

Aeroex’s 3D Printing Strategy

Before proposing a solution for 3D printing fumes, the engineers at Aeroex spent considerable time researching  the nature of the fumes generated by 3D printing including the materials involved, equipment used, typical shop configurations, and the nature of the fumes released (composition and quantity). Much like our medical-grade air purification systems and/or mist extraction systems that are used  for other processes that generate fumes like CNC machining, we apply the principles of source capture  and ambient control. In the case of 3D printing, processes are usually quite modular and the sources of fumes are easy to pinpoint. Therefore,  the source capture method is bound to be highly efficient because fumes can be extracted before they enter the ambient conditions of your shop, which would require purification of much larger volumes of air at lower concentrations. Our attention to strategy and deployment planning is a key consideration when many other air purifiers cite the performance of MERV or HEPA filters without a plan for you to experience this level of performance.

The Right Filter for the Job

Beyond our overall strategy, the filters in question will ensure complete fume extraction during 3D printing or laser printing. For fumes like styrene which are associated with 3D printing, Aeroex uses activated carbon filters with a HEPA standard for particle size and efficiency. HEPA (also known as high-efficiency particulate absorbing, as defined by the US Department of Energy and the EPA), has an efficiency rating of 99.97% for particles as small as 0.3 μm. Typically, fumes exist in the particle range smaller than one micron, making the HEPA filter the optimal application for 3D printing. 

Commercial HEPA Air Filtration Systems with Activated Carbon

Activated carbon is a powerful technology that removes airborne gaseous chemicals through adsorption (adhesion of molecules to a surface without inducing solubility), which is why it’s a trusted part of sacred processes like the treatment of drinking water and wastewater. Activated carbon is also the focal point of Aeroex’s air purification systems design for fume extraction in 3D printing and laser printing. In an industry where claims about carbon are abound, Aeroex goes beyond the competition. We use real carbon made of coconut shells. While some companies will use small sprinkles of carbon in their filters so it can be cited in their product description, Aeroex goes as far as filling the filter media with small elongated pellets. During fume extraction, the air is pushed through the pellets to maximize the adsorption process, providing you with superior efficiency and long lasting filters.. The composition of our activated carbon and the sheer amount of it we use is a key reason to choose Aeroex, especially once you begin to understand the underlying “gold standard” technology of our products versus others who claim to provide fume extraction.

There are both established 3D printing practices in North America as well as quickly emerging companies that are still fine-tuning their processes. 3D printing companies are quickly realizing the need to focus on health and safety, but we would encourage you not to rush – instead take time to understand your fume sources and the purification technology. Some companies are offering “technologies” like bipolar ionizers, hydroxyl generators, and disinfectant foggers (as reported by outlets like Mother Jones and Colorado State University) that claim to be quick fixes, when in fact these will leave you at risk without the fume extraction you truly need. Due to the growth of 3D printing and the ever expanding variety of materials used for printing, the industry is still zeroing in on the best methods of industrial air filtration and ventilation, like our HEPA filters. 

We Are Committed to Supporting the 3D Printing Industry

We understand 3D printing is a growing industry, and we want to ensure the health and safety of your workplace for the long term. Our superior quality means the fume extraction technology you receive will be long-lasting and scalable as your 3D printing business grows, while the filters we use have large amounts of media that reduce the overall costs of filter replacements, by widening the maintenance intervals and lowering the labour hours required for maintenance. This is why we have stationed every aspect of our product lifecycle in Canada, from manufacturing to customer support. While many larger companies outsource their customer service internationally, purchasing a made-in-Canada product means your air purification supplier is with you for the long haul. We want to make sure that your operations are successful and we will be there to help you make the right deployment and get the most out of our products. Check out our operation in Barrie Ontario, and contact us today to get started with your Canadian partner for air purification in laser printing and 3D printing. 

Air Purification Manufacturing
Plastic Welding Fume Extraction
July 26, 2021

Plastic Welding Fume Extraction

Plastic welding is a popular technique for assembling goods from plastic components or materials because it allows you to directly join two compatible pieces without relying on adhesives or fasteners. This technique often produces products with a seamless appearance due to the components all being the same plastic material, without joints or clamps. The surface of the plastic is usually melted with a hot air welding gun. Although, there are other techniques like acoustic vibration, friction welding, laser welding, and contact welding. These manual techniques are useful for small operations, while larger operations can scale up with automatic welding. With these technologies, many of the goods we use in our everyday lives can be produced fairly inexpensively. However, any production technique that involves melting plastic will produce fumes that raise health and safety concerns and operational issues like accumulating by-products on the facility’s equipment. 

Challenges with Fumes in the Plastic Welding Industry

Plastic welding poses some unique challenges for air quality due to the types of materials being used and their operating conditions. Typically, rigid thermoplastics like PVC are welded at air temperatures of around 350 degrees Celsius to avoid discoloration or scorching of the product. Unfortunately, the melting point of these plastics and the operating temperature of the equipment mean that the emissions produced are bound to contaminate the ambient air in the facility.. The following are a few indicators  associated with industrial fume emissions: 

  • Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is known to produce black smoke and soot flakes.
  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) produces black smoke.
  • Acrylics produce a lot of odor.
  • Polycarbonate (PC) produces yellowish smoke and soot.

In each of these cases, fumes are producing chlorine, styrene, and other harmful by-products that cause acute effects like irritated skin or eyes, nausea, and headaches – with chronic effects including cancer. The rate at which these toxins are released can vary with your operating temperatures, complicating matters further. A plastic welding operation that wants to scale up has to manage these risks to remain safe and sustainable. 

As mentioned above, plastic welding smoke is often dark and mixed with fumes (the finer solid particles). Suspended in these emissions are large and fine airborne solid particles produced by vaporizing and condensing plastic particles, causing the dark color. The transient state of these particles means that they do not remain vaporized or airborne. The result? Condensation of smoke and fumes from plastic welding, leaving behind waxy residues! Setting aside the health and safety concerns of the fumes, these residues will impact and clog your machinery and conventional HVAC systems – driving up maintenance costs and reducing the useful life of your assets. The variation of particle sizes from smoke and fume combinations means that a uniform approach will not mitigate all emissions equally.

Strategies for Industrial Air Filtration and Ventilation

The waxy fumes and smoke from plastic welding are a reality of the production process that should be managed effectively for both safety and the longevity of your shop. This unique challenge is where Aeroex’s air purification systems perform as advertised while some competing air purification systems fall short as they advertise high efficiency, yet provide insufficient airflow to fully mitigate the inbound emissions. To manage waxy residues, a special design is needed to prevent clogging. Otherwise, you will be stuck doing perpetual maintenance without realizing the true benefits you should expect from your air purification system. 

Aeroex’s industrial air filtration units use progressive filtration technology where each stage is designed to complement the shortfalls of the last, and ultimately results in longer-lasting filters as well as allows filtration of particulate sized emissions and emissions on the molecular level. . Typically, this is where other air purification systems fall short and get clogged as these systems rely on the filter itself without primary mechanical elements. While these air purification systems “perform” well when brand new or during demos, they don’t have a design that will sustainably deliver the service you need. 

Since waxy emissions are a reality of plastic welding, then, there needs to be a way to deal with them in a way that does not impact your maintenance budget significantly. Your competitors are likely dealing with the same issue, due to the nature of plastic welding emissions. The progressive filtration approach allows the wax to accumulate on the primary washable elements, keeping your consumable activated carbon and HEPA filters in an environment where minimal wax residue is able to get through. The primary filtration elements are easily removable and hand-washable, a periodic and very low-cost maintenance activity. This design choice was intentional because it will prevent you from having the frequent filter replacement costs seen in other competitor models. 

Industrial Air Filtration Systems Designed for the Long Haul

Future-proofing your business is one of our core mandates, and Aeroex aims to outfit you with quality, made in Canada air purification systems. The longer your systems last, the better your investment return is, something Aeroex has strived for both in design and materials used. The nature of plastic welding is that it will incur costly maintenance to your filters if the correct design is not deployed. Aeroex has developed a solution that will cut through any issues you have had with clogged filters in the past. Our clients regularly report satisfaction at how durable our products are. For instance take Laker Energy, one of our first clients. Their mist collector (a similar product to what we would recommend for plastic welding) is going strong after 15 years, with the SAME FILTER inside – working smoothly after all this time. 

Our industrial air filtration systems will cut out the headaches of smoke and fumes during plastic welding, allowing you to focus on the things that matter like scaling up your business into automatic plastic welding. Contact Aeroex to talk to a specialist team member, get the specs, and plan an air purification deployment for your plastic welding operation today.

Air Purification
How Does Air Filtration Work
July 21, 2021

How Does Air Filtration Work?

With the identification of the novel coronavirus, we began to rethink the safety of our workplaces and what factors would need to be adjusted in the “new normal”. Within this context, the need to consider air filtration in the workplace became widely apparent. 

In 2020, it quickly became clear that many of the existing industrial air filtration systems were ill-equipped in their ability to adequately purify the air, notably in institutional facilities and other public workplaces like schools or offices. This finding demonstrated the need for greater investment in air purification. Despite this need, agencies are increasingly being asked to meet rising performance expectations while making greater use of limited funds. This means that the ideal air purification solutions that are needed can effectively mitigate risk, align with public health practices, and demonstrate investment performance. 

Medical Grade Air Purification

Aeroex understands the need for medical-grade air purification. We are experts in the science behind the process and have designed products to match. First and foremost, for medical grade applications, the main threat is biological matter (which is millions of times larger than the atmosphere’s molecules), therefore the filter efficiency should be very high, generally falling under the HEPA classification. However, this strategy does not help with small molecules such as VOCs. To tackle VOCs, one highly effective technique that is available involves a material called activated carbon. Understanding this, Aeroex uses multi-stage filtration processes that have compounding efficiency benefits in each stage, finishing with medical-grade HEPA filtration. 

Air purification needs to effectively improve the safety of the workplace in areas where there may be low ventilation or few options for physical distancing whereby in-room filtration is needed rather than products like UV lights which do not improve filtration. Aeroex products provide assurance and risk mitigation, and our understanding of the science behind medical-grade air filtration has allowed us to engineer state-of-the-art air purification systems used in public workspaces across North America. In-room air purification technology has been proven to significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19 by organizations like the WHO. Commercial HEPA Air Purifier filters should be used as an additional control measure to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 – while they do not guarantee the complete elimination of a virus or replace any government recommendations, the performance they deliver will provide you with balanced risk management that keeps your facilities operational.

Aeroex IRIS Commercial HEPA Air Filtration Systems

If you operate a school, office building, or another public setting like a doctor or dentist’s office, Aeroex recommends the IRIS Medical Grade Air Purification Unit as a device that embodies the science of air purification and the practicality of your operation. It is specifically designed for occupied spaces that will protect your students and staff. Consequently, hundreds of our products can be found in school boards, colleges, and universities across Ontario, Canada.

IRIS Medical Grade Commercial HEPA Air Filtration Systems are equipped with a dual-stage, high-performance odour control MERV8/Carbon Primary filter and a 2nd stage HEPA filter with an efficiency rating of 99.97% @ 0.3 μm. Our exchange ratings use CDC guidelines to provide airborne risk mitigation through high-grade air purification. The IRIS series includes both portable and central purification systems and offers several secondary benefits like variable speed control and high-performance odor control.

Many cheap alternatives make big promises about the performance of their HEPA filters, but leave out key details about the capacity, air flow, and compatible room size for in-room air purification. This is a big issue that Aeroex is trying to combat – The effectiveness of an air purifier is usually reported in terms of efficiency, which can be misleading, as it only tells half of the story. The other crucial factor to consider is air flow. Together these two factors equal the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), which is a better measure of how a device will perform. For example, 99.99% efficiency may sound great, but if the air flow is only 20 cubic ft./min. (cfm), one would be better off with a purifier at 90% efficiency and 50 cfm (CADR: ~20cfm VS. 45cfm). If the unit is incapable of providing sufficient air exchanges for the space it is located in, the efficiency rating is borderline meaningless.n. Make no mistake, Aeroex will deliver not just on the promise of long lasting HEPA filters but the availability of multiple models capable of an array of air flow ratings will make certain that a proper solution is matched to your needs.. For proof, check out our live demonstration of the IRIS-400 Medical Grade Air Filtration System in action versus smoke in an unventilated room for a visual depiction of how quickly we purify your workspace. We have successfully purified air for clients like schools, dentists, hospitals, and commercial offices. 

Aeroex IRIS-400 Air Purification System

IRIS 400 Photo

Aeroex Emphasizes Safety, Quality, and Trust

By purchasing an in-room air purification system, you are putting trust in a company and a product that will keep your visitors safe. However, many companies are exploiting the circumstances of the past year to mislead customers and distribute dangerous products. As recently as May 2021, it has been uncovered that thousands of best-selling air purification devices purchased by schools with government grants are producing toxic chemicals and do not work as intended. As reported by Mother Jones, one of the United States’ top manufacturers (Global Plasma Solutions) is now facing a $750 Million lawsuit from the State of Delaware, charging that company claims were “deceptive” and made the air worse due to the ions it discharged. Be skeptical of companies like Global Plasma Solutions who make claims of advent “technologies” like bipolar ionization. 

Aeroex has an established history of producing air purification systems well before the COVID pandemic. Our investment in efficient designs and our decision to manufacture our products in Canada are part of our strong commitment to valuing the trust you place in us. We strive for longevity and wish to gain your confidence through demonstrated results from tried-and-true technologies. Aeroex is a company you can trust to provide in-room air purification for your school or meeting space.  

Lower Total Lifecycle Cost

The maintenance requirements for your purification system should also be scrutinized – products with cheaper prices often rely on badly designed filters that need to be replaced constantly. The same way a printer company wants to sell you ink cartridges, many air purification systems want you to keep coming back for costly filter replacements. If you are hoping to upgrade your facility with an air purification system funded by a grant opportunity or similar one-time funding, Aeroex products are likely the better solution because they have lower operating impacts on your business in future years. Competitors often use a fraction of the filter media used by Aeroex, resulting in competitor drops in efficacy within a few months of application and increased maintenance costs from high filter changing cycles. Aeroex wants you to get the best value for your investment.

Contact Aeroex to Learn More

Before making any final decisions, we recommend contacting one of our technical specialists to help you select the right product for your needs and to go over your deployment plan. Contact the Aeroex team today to get started.

Air Purification Blog
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June 8, 2021

Industrial Air Purification Systems

Industrial Air Purification Systems explained: learn the ins and outs of Aeroex Air Purification Solutions.

Industry powers the economic activity of our society, processing raw materials and manufacturing goods to create supply chains, jobs, and products. With advances in technology, our industrial processes have grown in complexity, scale, and capacity. The quality of the air in the workplace has been an issue dating back to the industrial revolution, but it is an issue that has evolved and persisted into our modern industries like metalworking and food production.

Industrial air quality concerns are more complicated than previously thought, including dust particles, mist, smoke, and fume issues – if these aren’t addressed with filtration, businesses could face occupational health and safety, production quality, equipment performance, and environmental compliance problems. Aeroex is at the forefront of the air quality challenges experienced by industry and the science behind keeping your workplace safe with clean air.

What Are The Industrial Air Quality Issues?

Air quality is threatened by a wide range of airborne pollutants. Poor quality is caused by contaminant particles, which can be big or small and in solid, liquid, or gaseous form. Common causes include smoke, mist, and fumes. The issues that you face will depend on your industrial process (ex. manufacturing, woodworking, food production, etc.) or if you are in a public setting (ex. schools or medical offices). To simplify the wide variety of pollutants that are fully addressed by Aeroex, the most common airborne pollutants in the industrial setting can generally be understood as smoke, mist, or fumes.

Smoke: Solid particulates released into the air as a byproduct of combustion. Particulates will vary in size and composition depending on the temperature of your combustion process and the medium being consumed (for example, diesel). Common sources include engines and generators. Many of the solid particulates vary

in size from those such as oil mist, meaning they can be captured at different stages of the same multi-step filtration process used in Aeroex air purification systems. Check out the ARO series products to see how we achieve this.

Mist: Mists are the liquid droplets of a substance or mixture that are suspended in the air. Their safety impacts vary greatly with the materials being used, their chemistry, and whether the mixing of chemicals is taking place. Mists are often issues in industries where water or liquids are used or where spraying takes place. Common use cases that Aeroex caters to include metalworking, laser cutting, spray painting, and food processing. Products like our Mist-Fit Series specialize in oil mist collection for industrial air quality purification.

Fumes: Volatilized solid particles such as iron or aluminum are released into the air, condensing and oxidizing to form dangerous fumes. If unmitigated, fumes can cause health issues including lung damage and cancer. Fumes are commonly associated with industrial processes like welding, textiles, painting, and paving. Aeroex could address these risks with an ambient air purification system (typically roof-mounted). This is suitable for any commercial or industrial setting.

Industrial air quality pollutants may appear complicated, but they can be easily addressed with industrial air purification systems designed by Aeroex and made right here in North America. We are at the forefront of air quality filtration technologies and are equipped to tackle the latest challenges like the need for medical-grade air purifiers.

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What exactly is the distinction between an air cleaner and an air purifier?

Most of them think air cleaners and air purifiers are one and the same. However, there is a vast difference between the two.

Air cleaners filter the air and collect dust, especially the larger dust (mostly dead skin) and pet dander. Most air cleaners have a fan that, when turned on high, can produce a lot of noise pollution. An air cleaner is frequently evaluated using a CADR (clean air delivery rate) or the number of air exchanges per hour. CADR only tests for larger particles (pollen, dust, and particles larger than.3 microns in size) and not for viruses, mold, mildew, bacteria, VOCs, chemicals, or cigarette smoke. On top of this, replacement filters are expensive to purchase. The majority of people do not address the negative ion issue.

In contrast, air purifiers kill airborne pathogens that cause allergies and illness and operate quietly. Moreover, Air purifiers are less expensive to operate.

How Do Industrial Air Purification Systems Work?

Industrial air purification systems work by pulling the contaminated air from the indoor environment into a filtration system, passing the air through a series of mediums designed to efficiently remove all of the harmful particles before releasing it back into the work environment. For example, the ARO Series Mist Collectors uses four stages of filter media to target increasingly small contaminants with each stage. This is a simplification of a technical process that has been carefully designed by Aeroex engineers, who understand that separation is best accomplished in progressive filters of increasing efficiency that move from targeting larger particles to the smallest and most problematic. This general approach is always tailored and customized for what industrial air purification a user wishes to achieve. Solutions for contaminated air can be engineered to mitigate any industrial, commercial, or institutional contaminant, including oil mist, bacteria, dust, and other harmful particulates.

How do industrial air purification systems eliminate airborne contaminants and improve indoor air quality?

It depends on the vendor, as some will use older centrifugal technologies that don’t eliminate fine mist and require frequent after-filter replacements. In the case of Aeroex, we use filter technologies that pass the air through separating layers such as depth loading fiber, oil attracting mesh, HEPA filters that capture the smallest mist, smoke, and bacteria particles.

Ambient and Source Capture Methods

Industrial air purifiers are designed to provide filtration for smoke, mist, and harmful fumes. How you achieve this will depend on whether a source capture strategy or an ambient capture solution is the right installation for your facility.

Ambient solutions are a common approach regardless of your industry or process, and Aeroex clients may choose to mount an air purifier on the ceiling where it can be centrally situated. Like your existing air circulation systems, ambient capture continuously captures plant air, purifies it with the filter, and then circulates it back through your facility. Ambient capture will passively purify all the air in the room, meaning it is best suited for facilities where you do not have a discrete polluter and you wish to provide general protection. The disadvantage of this approach is that it may not be the most efficient approach if you can pinpoint a polluter source and use an air filtration system with an optimized location, in which case source capture will offer you more benefits.

Source capture filtration occurs by placing a mobile purifier at the site, or mounting it directly onto the emitter (Aeroex provides both types), to eliminate industrial pollutants directly at the source. Taking the time to understand the source of harmful contaminants will reduce your costs and improve health outcomes by designing for a more efficient and effective solution, which is why it’s always preferable to put controls on contaminants at the source.

Industrial Air Purification Systems in Action

Industrial air quality is an important determinant of the health of your workers, the performance of your equipment, and the success of your business. There is a wide range of issues depending on your industry that could include oil mist, food production by-products, smoke, or fumes, only a fraction of which are discussed above. The Aeroex series of products is ready to tackle all facilities, which is why Aeroex has completed 3610 projects in 51 industries. Check out our gallery of Aeroex industrial air purification systems in action, and if you have an industrial, commercial, or institutional challenge that was not discussed please reach out to our engineering experts.

Air Purification Blog
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March 5, 2021

Air Purifier For Schools and other educational facilities.

Air quality has always been important, however, it’s never been more top of mind than now! The current global situation has compelled us to reconsider air quality, particularly indoor air quality in enclosed spaces such as educational facilities. Let’s talk about the importance of air purifiers at schools

Maintaining air quality in daycares, schools, colleges, and universities presents unique challenges. Essentially, they are densely populated spaces in which people tend to spend extended periods of time, thus increasing exposure for students and faculty to contaminated air that may be present.

It is not uncommon to find airborne particles such as dust, viruses, bacteria, allergens, and mold circulating in the air.

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Our local schools should be clean and fit for learning. One way to reduce airborne contaminants and potential exposure to disease in classrooms and lecture halls are by using air purifiers. There are various options available, but essentially they all try to achieve the same result – clean air by neutralizing or filtering out contaminants.

What are Air Purifiers?

Air Purifiers are machines that either filter or neutralize airborne contaminants. They achieve this by employing various methods, but most can be classified in one of two ways: Filter driven air purification systems (such as HEPA air purifiers) or Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization, which neutralizes contaminants by ionizing the air.

What is a hepa air purifier?

HEPA filtration works by forcing air through a filter media, with numerous redirections in its path, causing 99.97% of microns smaller than 0.3 μm to be trapped. HEPA air purifiers are ideal for educational facilities as they are designed for use in occupied spaces, produce no byproducts, and can operate continuously with minimal maintenance.

Public Health Ontario has stated that “Air cleaners equipped with HEPA filters should be able to remove COVID-19 virus-sized particles from indoor air, which may contribute to a reduction in exposure to the virus.” (https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/ipac/2021/01/faq-covid-19-portable-air-cleaners.pdf?la=en)

Which hepa air purifier is the best for air filtration in Schools?

Aeroex has engineered the IRIS series of medical-grade HEPA Air Purification systems to tackle contaminated air in enclosed spaces. Ideal for applications in school classrooms, university and college lecture halls, medical waiting rooms, offices, and other high-traffic spaces. Aeroex air purifications systems are excellent for use in educational facilities as:

  • IRIS air purification systems come equipped with a 1st dual-stage MERV8 Carbon filter and 2nd stage HEPA filter with a rating of 99.97% at 0.3 microns.
  • Portable and central solutions are available.
  • Wall and ceiling mounts available.
  • Variable speed control is standard for many models allowing infinite adjustment to an ideal airflow and sound level.
  • Our units are classified by delivered airflow instead of rated airflow, making it easy to identify the suitable unit for a specific application. For example, the IRIS-400 delivers post filter airflow at the rate of 400 CFM.

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With over 20 years of experience in emission control and air purification, we have the right unit for your application. Our production facility is proudly located in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, and services all of North America.

Which IRIS unit is right for your application?

We have developed an online calculator to help you determine which unit is suitable for your specific application based on the room area and the required number of Air Exchanges per hour. (https://aeroex.com/air-purification-calculator)

If you have a hard time choosing the right air purifier for schools , or have questions about any of our products, and would like to speak to one of our clean air specialists, reach out to us.

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