Biodecontamination by Ultraviolet Light (UV)

Over the years, ultraviolet (UV) light has become an increasingly popular solution for disinfecting the air and surfaces of different materials.

Advantages

Although it is true that there are other solutions, such as thermal or chemical disinfection, which also offer optimal results in certain conditions, disinfection using UV light LED lamps has a series of advantages that make it a particularly practical technique depending on the applications. :

1. It is a system that respects the environment and is free of toxicity that can be used in the food industry and only requires a protective barrier to avoid possible damage to the skin or eyesight of the operators.
2. It is a dry and chemical-free technique that does not require the storage of substances or consumables. Being a dry process, it does not contribute to the proliferation of moulds, spores or bacteria.
3. It is compatible with other containment or filtering systems such as HEPA filters so that they can be installed together to create all kinds of pathogen-free environments.
4. It is very low maintenance .
5. Economic compared to other biodecontamination and sterilization systems.

Types

We have two types of UV light, applicable depending on the case:

Continuous UV Systems

These systems reach a maximum of 254 nm. The DNA of microorganisms has a maximum absorption of between 250 and 280 nanometers and, in this sense, continuous UV light bulbs have an ideal wavelength to produce a germicidal effect. However, the UV power of these lamps is often insufficient to achieve biodecontamination levels of up to 6-log on surfaces and, furthermore, not all microorganisms react at the 254nm wavelength and therefore cannot be treated. inactivated. To maximize decontamination, several seconds of exposure are necessary, which leads to an increase in object temperature and a multiplication of the number of UV lights. Depending on the industrial applications, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, it is difficult to implement this technology, which is why another disinfection system is available, pulsed light.

pulsed light systems

As a biodecontamination technology, since its patent in 1984 its application has been approved by the FDA in the agri-food sector. In the pharmaceutical sector, it is currently beginning to be used to disinfect objects and surfaces. Pulsed light technology offers a broad spectrum wavelength light source (180nm – 1100nm). The combination of flashes and very intense UV light makes it possible to immediately achieve very high levels of decontamination of all types of germs, even reaching 6-log. The flash lasts a few hundred microseconds, is therefore very fast and leaves no residue.

Advice and validation

Once the most suitable continuous UV or pulsed light disinfection system has been chosen and installed, its validation will be necessary, for which the patented disinfection validation indicators are used.

We can offer the possibility of studying which technology is best suited to your needs in a scientific approach and proven experience, as well as a validation service or carrying out feasibility studies. At Kirhtech we have an extensive catalog of fully customizable material pass-throughs that incorporate these ultraviolet LED lamp disinfection systems.

Whatever your need or sector, at Iguña and Kirhtech we can develop and manufacture the equipment that best suits your needs. Ask us!