49 replies to this topic

[TheJackal]

Hip suggestd FMRC dual element ionizer, but these are hard to locate.

Any other suggestions?

[Hippie3]

doesn't have to be dual element.
plenty of cheap ionizers on ebay

[Freaky]

Has anyone tried a commercial brand ionizer for any mycology work?

[PsilocibeJuggalo]

Get something with photohydro ionization, Radiant catalytic ionization or photo catalytic oxidation. All three have been proven to kill 99.7% of bacteria , viruses, and fungus (specifically mold) and was proven to drop and kill over 90% of bioaerosols in the first 60 minutes. one unit does 3000sq ft dependant on good air circlation.

[TheJackal]

Thanks for your expertise!

A biology PhD friend of mine suggested a commercial brand name from Sears that escapes me now, but that I will post for your comments shortly.

[PsychoDrogue]

the company fmrc sells is aspenair. When i needed replacement filters i found some newer model ionizers from the same company that were about the same size and shape (uses the same filters i ordered from mine). hope that helps your searches.

[TheJackal]

the company fmrc sells is aspenair. When i needed replacement filters i found some newer model ionizers from the same company that were about the same size and shape (uses the same filters i ordered from mine). hope that helps your searches.

Thanks!

[TheJackal]

Ordered one aspenair a-12 ionizer. Read the archives (http://archives.myco...c=5&page=174515) and Hippie seems to suggests employing two such units, one outside a glovebox (GB) and one inside the GB.

My question is how to use just the one unit inside my greenhouse, which I also use as a glovebox (I know, not the best idea), for agar work.

Current procedure for non-agar work is to 50:1 bleach spray the inside of the two-tier greenhouse and then use it as a still air glovebox, using the glovebox features added to the greenhouse to do sterile work (innoc, LC, etc.). It seems to work fine, but with some contams.

Was thinking of using new procedure for agar work of 50:1 bleach spraying the inside of the greenhouse, and then placing the ionizer inside the greenhouse on the bottom shelf, such that the clean air ion bubble is directed towards the upper shelf, where sterile agar work is to be performed.

Note that the greenhouse has a metal frame and a plastic cover and is not very big.

Comments from the experts appreciated!

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[PsychoDrogue]

as long as there isn't too much water in the air when you run your ionizer you should be fine. I have left mine on with the humidifier on before and i came back in less than two hours with a thick white film all over my ionizer and surrounding areas. dont know what that could do to the life of the unit, but the cleanup wasn't a desired aspect.

as for how to use, just plug it in and point the top in the direction your working (or straight up for a broad area). let it run for an hour or so before you start working. a small area like a glovebox will probably take less time, but it uses next to 0 electricity and doesn't make noise or anything so I just let mine run full time when I can.

these are very mobile units. there is no reason you cant just use it in your glovebox during transfers etc and move it to the rest of your room during idle time if you cant afford to get two. I have been meaning to buy a second for a few months now. I actually want two more, the do a great job keeping smoke at bay in the living room. air feels a lot cleaner.

[TheJackal]

as long as there isn't too much water in the air when you run your ionizer you should be fine. I have left mine on with the humidifier on before and i came back in less than two hours with a thick white film all over my ionizer and surrounding areas. dont know what that could do to the life of the unit, but the cleanup wasn't a desired aspect.

as for how to use, just plug it in and point the top in the direction your working (or straight up for a broad area). let it run for an hour or so before you start working. a small area like a glovebox will probably take less time, but it uses next to 0 electricity and doesn't make noise or anything so I just let mine run full time when I can.

these are very mobile units. there is no reason you cant just use it in your glovebox during transfers etc and move it to the rest of your room during idle time if you cant afford to get two. I have been meaning to buy a second for a few months now. I actually want two more, the do a great job keeping smoke at bay in the living room. air feels a lot cleaner.

Kewl, thanks, will try it out!

As far as humidity, the greenhouse employs a temp and humidity (THUM) sensor and an intake fan that can flush out the greenhouse and get the RH down to 25% or so in short order.

So procedure will be to flush humidity from greenhouse, bleach spray the shit out of the inside of greenhouse, run ionizer, do agar work, and then hope for success.

Thanks again for your expertise!

[PsilocibeJuggalo]

You will find that filter units don't work very well except for a foot in each direction. You need to have phi,pco,or RCI so that it kills the spores in the air since you will never filter them all. We commonle joke about why would you bring a portion of your ai to a partial solution 16-20% effective when youcould use active air and bring 99% of solution to the Problem.

[Hippie3]

aspenaire contact info
For information on this product,
call 1-800-388-4667 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST)
ASPENAIR, A Division of Air Ion Devices Inc.
P.O. Box 5009, Novato, California 94948-5009;
(Tel) (415) 883-0160; (Fax) (415) 883-0286

[TheJackal]

You will find that filter units don't work very well except for a foot in each direction. You need to have phi,pco,or RCI so that it kills the spores in the air since you will never filter them all. We commonle joke about why would you bring a portion of your ai to a partial solution 16-20% effective when youcould use active air and bring 99% of solution to the Problem.

Can you reccomend any ai units small enough for a two tier greeenhouse?

[TheJackal]

aspenaire contact info
For information on this product,
call 1-800-388-4667 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST)
ASPENAIR, A Division of Air Ion Devices Inc.
P.O. Box 5009, Novato, California 94948-5009;
(Tel) (415) 883-0160; (Fax) (415) 883-0286

Thanks, mang!

[joystik]

What about the cheaper ionizers sold at amazon.com?? Some even have UV Lamps.Has anyone tried any of those??
hmm, check this out. http://www.ioniczone...coating-s/6.htm
wouldnt that be quite useful??

[shadowechos]

Get something with photohydro ionization, Radiant catalytic ionization or photo catalytic oxidation. All three have been proven to kill 99.7% of bacteria , viruses, and fungus (specifically mold) and was proven to drop and kill over 90% of bioaerosols in the first 60 minutes. one unit does 3000sq ft dependant on good air circlation.

PsilocibeJuggalo You tickled my curiosity - so I did some research- preety pricey stuff,..and a lot of choices...
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Advanced Hydrated Photocatalytic Oxidation Cell

http://breathebetter...CFSWQGgodyUs0dA

explaination of Hydrated Photocatalytic Oxidation

http://breathebetter...ifierworks.html

also

AHPCO™ stands for Advanced Hydrated Photocatalytic Oxidation technology. Basically, it is a broad-spectrum, high-intensity UV light targeted on a patent-pending Quad-Nano Xtreme™ quad metallic catalyst utilizing nano-technology in a low-level ozone and moist atmosphere.

This creates an advanced oxidation of friendly oxidizers. Unlike ozone, these oxidizers are safe, yet aggressive at killing mold, bacteria, viruses and more. They also effectively neutralize odours and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Once they have done their job they revert back to oxygen and hydrogen. AHPCO technology has been successfully used in water, air, food and laundry applications. Note: Danger / Never look directly at the illuminated AHPCO Cell.

more at http://www.justbuyon...-cell-a-89.html
================================
explaination of Radiant Catalytic Ionization
Radiant Catalytic Ionization or RCI combines high intensity UVX light with a specially developed rare metal hydrophilic coating on an engineered matrix, Radiant Catalytic Ionization (RCI™) reduces airborne contaminants, and odors while creating super oxide ions and hydro-peroxides. These products of the Fresh Air by EcoQuest Advanced Oxidation Process continues working to reduce more odors and VOC’s, and to attack micro-organisms.

By engineering the proper light wavelengths into the RCI cell, EcoQuest has developed a highly effective system designed to utilize 254 nm hv germicidal UV light. Falling between visible UV light and invisible X-Rays in the light spectrum, UVX makes use of the same oxidation and ionizing properties of light as naturally occurring sunlight.

For those of you that aren’t interested in the alphabet soup technical explanation, in simpler terms, Fresh Air takes advantage of these ionizing properties and combines them with the photo catalytic reactions of specific rare and noble metals to create Radiant Catalytic Ionization (RCI). This innovative use of light is what makes RCI so effective.
------------
November 26, 2004
In early September, EcoQuest acquired a division of RGF Environmental Group, which has a patent pending on an air purification process called radiant catalytic ionization that uses
metal ions and low levels of ozone to clean the air.
----------------

http://www.ecoquesti...s/fresh_air.asp

http://www.ecoquesti.../index_home.asp

======================================================

Photo catalytic oxidation

http://www.air-purif...oduct/S980.aspx

explaination of Photo catalytic oxidation

Photo catalytic oxidation technology provides the ultimate in air purification for your home. High grade prefilter with active carbon absorbs odors and toxic gases. Hospital grade HEPA filter removes 99.97% of airborne particles, including mold, spores, and tobacco smoke. Second layer of activated carbon virtually eliminates all odors in the room. UV-C lamp is effective at eliminating bacteria and viruses smaller then 0.3 microns. Lab tests have shown that 90% of the bacteria and viruses are eliminated in the first pass. The Photo-Catalytic Oxidation (PCO) chamber provides 10,000 times the ultra violet intensity of comparable sunlight, which will break the chemical chain of Volitile Organic Compounds (VOC) and turn them into water and harmless gases.

Step One: Purifies the Air of Macro Particles - A treated (5) micron pre-filter removes a particles from the air larger than (5) MICRONS, extending the life of the HEPA filter and protecting the gas absorbing media from dust coating and fouling.

Step Two: Hospital Grade HEPA Filter Removes Allergens - A hospital grade HEPA filter removes allergens so small that they can only be seen with a microscope. Pollen, mold, fungal spores, dust mites, cockroach dust, tobacco smoke and bacteria are but a few examples.

Step Three: Absorbs Toxic Chemicals and Gases - A specially formulated gas absorption media absorbs automobile exhaust fumes, organic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde from particle board used in home construction, paint solvents, chlorine, cleaning chemicals and other fumes until the Photo-Catalytic converter destroys the pollutants.

Step Four: “Photo-Catalytic Oxidation” Destroys Toxic Chemicals and Eliminates Odors - Activated carbon, zeolite and potassium permanganate can rapidly absorb large quantities of toxic fumes however this media quickly becomes saturated and slowly releases pollutants back into the air stream. Photo-Catalytic Oxidation converts toxic compounds, even carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, into benign constituents such as carbon dioxide and water without wearing out or losing its effectiveness,

Step Five: Ultraviolet Light Kills Disease Causing Germs on Contact - Ultraviolet light 10,000 times the intensity of sunlight kills viruses and bacteria too small to be filtered out by a HEPA filter, Ultraviolet technology combined with Photo-Catalytic Oxidation is the most important feature in air purification since germs are easily spread from one person to another by central heating and air-conditioning system..

Step Six: Negative Ions Improve Sleep and Keep Air Fresh (the ion generator is totally optional and can be turned off for those sensitive to negative ions and ozone) - Oxygen in the air reacts with ultraviolet light to produce large amounts of negative ions and activated oxygen.
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http://www.air-n-wat...oduct/S900.html
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explaination of Photo catalytic oxidation and patent

http://www.lynntech....ion/index.shtml

[Hippie3]

thx
but
we do know that the basic simple ionizer from aspenaire
does a pretty damn good job for ~ $80

[shadowechos]

aspenaire contact info
For information on this product,
call 1-800-388-4667 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST)
ASPENAIR, A Division of Air Ion Devices Inc.
P.O. Box 5009, Novato, California 94948-5009;
(Tel) (415) 883-0160; (Fax) (415) 883-0286

thx
but
we do know that the basic simple ionizer from aspenaire
does a pretty damn good job for ~ $80

thx
like this ?
http://www.plantitea...pid=120&catid=5 ...$79.95

[Hippie3]

yep