Oxytec’s team is made up of specialists, engineers, chemists, and other experts with rich experience in all aspects of purifying exhaust air. Since 2004, they have been developing and selling systems for purifying and disinfecting exhaust air, interior air, surfaces, and waste water in the food service, food, and textile industries as well as in industrial sectors dealing with waste management. The company’s systems are also used in processes involving solvents, the medical field, and many other sectors. In the field of air purification, they also handle plasma systems and automatic chemical scrubbers.
Oxytec addresses each customer’s individual request in detail. Therefore, their products are constantly developing, new areas of use are being discovered, and relevant solutions are developed for each individual problem. With branches in Prague, Salzburg, Hamburg, and Zürich, their team supports the specialized demands of architects and planners and helps them meet legal requirements (e.g., emission protections, hygiene regulations, and heritage preservation). The company’s goal is to develop individual solutions that provide their customers with maximum effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
Interview with Dipl.-Ing. Anja Toussaint, Oxytec AG.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Anja Toussaint: Due to the Corona pandemic, our focus since 2020 has been on retrofitting ventilation systems with UV disinfection modules.
Especially in the food industry, our UV-C disinfection systems create an effective way to destroy harmful microorganisms in production and storage areas on evaporator coolers or before they enter the production area in the air-conditioning shaft – e.g. on cooling coils.
E.E: What’s the news for 2021 about new products?
A.T: Given the high demand for effective indoor air purifiers. We have further developed the Cleanair on the basis of plasma technology.
Plasma transforms the air into the energetic state of plasma through controlled voltage. Viruses, bacteria and germs are inactivated. At the same time, activated oxygen (O3) is produced in the plasma, which also reacts with the pollutants in the air and binds them. The air becomes harmless and odorless in a fraction of a second.
The effectiveness of this technology against viruses, bacteria and microorganisms has been known for a long time and has been proven beyond doubt by renowned independent bodies. The high effectiveness with regard to the pandemic pathogen SARS-CoV-2 has also been sufficiently proven.
Our processes (UV-C and plasma) are therefore suitable and extensively tested and proven technologies for indoor air disinfection.
Oxytec had commissioned a corresponding study for two devices (Cleanair Sky and Freshair) from the Fraunhofer Institute.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) tested the Cleanair Sky with fine dust filter ePM1 80 %, which cleans the room air with cold plasma. 97 percent fewer viruses in the room air – this is the result of the first study “Efficiency of the room air purifier from Oxytec (Cleanair Sky) on the reduction and inactivation of airborne viruses”.
Even 99 percent less viruses in the room air – this is the conclusion of the second study “Efficiency of the compact room air purifier from oxytec (Freshair) on the reduction and inactivation of airborne viruses”. Here, too, the high effectiveness of the Freshair against viruses in the room air was thus proven. The device works with the UV-C/ozone method.
Both studies were tested under real-room conditions, not only with aerosols, but with living viruses called Phi6 bacteriophage. These surrogate viruses are identical to SARS-CoV-2 in structure, size and stability, but do not pose a health risk. This family of viruses is recognized for test series of this kind. Thus, the study meets all the requirements of the Federal Environment Agency for realistic conditions.
Furthermore, it could be confirmed that the ozone concentration measured in the room air is very low and harmless to health: a maximum of 12 µg/m³ with the Freshair and a maximum of 18 µg/m³ with the Cleanair Sky. These are only 10 and 15 percent, respectively, of the target value of 120 µg/m stipulated in the Federal Immission Act.
The plasma units are ready to plug in. They operate very quietly. Their simple, high-quality design makes them easy to integrate into the room.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
A.T: The products are: UV-C-disinfection, compact air cleaner with Plasma- or UV-technology.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2021?
A.T: Our estimations are that UV-C technology will prevail on the market.