15 Smelliest Substances on Earth

// Unlike sight or hearing, smell isn’t a sense we rely on in daily life. However, something with a truly foul stench can feel like a swift kick to the face.  Want some examples?  Read on… 1. Who Me? During World War II, the Allied Forces created Who Me – one of the most nefarious chemical weapons.  Its purpose: to make the target smell like feces.  The goal: to spray Who Me on German officers, thus embarrassing the Sheppard’s and demoralizing the sheep. Unfortunately, the plan didn’t work. After two weeks, the project was decommissioned because the Allied moles couldn’t avoid smelling just as bad as the targets, thus incriminating themselves. Source 2. Ethyl Mercaptan…

UV Air Purifier Information

Several home air purifier manufacturers have started including an ultraviolet (UV) lamp in their air purifiers. The reason for a UV lamp is that ultraviolet light in sufficient doses kills certain harmful microorganisms like viruses and bacteria. The people who are most at risk from airborne harmful microorganisms are very old people and very young people. That’s why air purifiers with UV stages are often seen in nursing homes and in child care centers and pediatrician offices. Ultraviolet light is invisible to the human eye. The wavelength of UV light is shorter than the shortest-wavelength light we can see, which is violet. There are three types of UV light: UVA, the longest wavelength UV light;…

Why is Carbon Used in Air Purifiers?

Activated carbon is used in home air purifiers because, like air sponges, carbon filters trap airborne odors and gases. The reason it is called "activated" charcoal is that it’s been treated with oxygen. This opens up tiny pores between the carbon atoms and the pores trap the odors and gases. Carbon granules have a very convoluted surface, providing it with a large surface area to volume ratio, which makes carbon filters tops for trapping the gases that go through particulate filters first. But eventually, the pores become clogged with contaminants, and the filters must be replaced to function properly. (Picture Caption) You an see in these closeups that activated carbon has a honeycomb formation. The…

Allergy Furnace Filter

Allergy furnace filters can help to remove numerous common particles which make up typical indoor air pollution. They include pollen, dust mites, pet dander, pet hair, organic compounds, and chemicals from household products, including formaldehyde, chlorine, and toluene. Indoor air pollution can aggravate allergies and cause watering eyes, sneezing, and coughing. Furnace filters are made of synthetic filters that combine the technologies of electrostatic air filtration and mechanical air filtration for optimum results. A gradient captures particles and minimizes air flow resistance simultaneously. As the air passes through, more particles are trapped. As the filter fills up with particulates, more and smaller particles are trapped, until the filter fills completely and must be changed (after…

Guide to Air Purifier Repair

Indoor air pollution is a fact of life, and in many cases the air indoors is less healthy than the air outdoors. Between dirt, pet dander, dust, and various microorganisms, indoor air can get quite dirty. Many people use air purifiers to make the air that they breathe inside their homes cleaner. But like every other electronic appliance, air purifiers get dirty, and when that happens they run far less efficiently, but there is a lot you can do to improve its efficiency if you’re a reasonably confident do-it-yourselfer. Home air purifiers are fairly simple devices, and periodic maintenance according to the instruction manual can keep them running efficiently. You’ve probably at some point noticed…

Airpura P600

The Airpura P600 is a top of the line air purifier with a top of the line price: $1,000. It is made in Quebec by Airpura Industries, Inc. This model has not only a high efficiency particle air (HEPA) filter, but also a carbon filter, a pre-filter, an ultraviolet lamp, and a titanium dioxide photocatalytic oxidizer. It has a high powered 560 cubic feet per minute fan (measured without the filters installed), and is one of the most powerful on the market. Though Airpura claims that the machine can purify the air in a 2,000 square foot area, practically speaking, it is probably more like 700 square feet, which is still pretty large. The particular…

Advanced Pure Air Newport 9000

The Advanced Pure Air Newport 9000 is marketed by Real Spirit USA and is manufactured in China. It strongly resembles the Mitsubishi MHI-6800 Intelli-Pro, with a futuristic design and shape. The Advanced Pure Air Newport 9000 is sold at Costco, Sam’s Club, Amazon, and Target for just under $280. While it doesn’t contain any breakthrough technology, it does contain several air cleaning technologies in one package. It monitors air quality for both dust and odor and has an LED four-level display showing indoor pollution levels as well as a sensor that indicates when the filters need to be replaced or when the electrostatic collection grid must be cleaned. The fan speed adjusts to pollutant levels,…

3M Filtrete Ultra Clean Air Purifier FAP02-RS

The 3M Filtrete Ultra Clean Air Purifier FAP02-RS (FAP02 for short) is sold at big retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Target. While they generally receive positive reviews, this air purifier does not use a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Rather, it uses an electrostatic filter that draws on 3M’s experience making furnace filters and particle respirators. It is designed for rooms up to 160 square feet. "Filtrete" is the charged electrostatic medium used in this air purifier. It acquires an electrical charge because of friction as the air passes the rectangular fibers that make up Filtrete. It is great for pollen and one-micron sized particles and dust. Filtrete fibers can be spaced far enough…

Coway Air Purifier

The Coway AP-1009CH Air Purifier is built in Korea by Woongjin Coway. The brand was introduced to the U.S. in 2007, and was rebranded by retailers like Lowes and Sears. Coway dominates the air purifier market in Korea, claiming 40% of sales there. The AP-1009CH is a mid-market product at $279 and is sold by Amazon, Walmart, and AirPurifiersAmerica.com. EPA Energy Star states that the Coway AP-1009CH has a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 186.9 for dust, 149.9 for smoke, and 203.8 for pollen (for an average of 180). These rates make this air purifier suitable for small and medium rooms. The AP-1009CH has a three stage filter system and four fan speeds, from…

Panasonic Air Purifier F-P15HU2

The Panasonic F-P15HU2 air purifier retails for around $540. It is a small air purifier with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter (model F-Y15XS, $36) and a charcoal filter (model F-Y55XS, $28). This is an automatic, electronic air purifier that is a good choice for a single room. For its price range, the F-P15HU2 is quiet. When set on a low, but still useful, air volume exchange rate, it is quiet enough for undisturbed sleep. Rated as a "best buy" by consumerguide.com, the F-P15HU2 does not include a pre-filter that some air purifiers use as protection for the main HEPA filter. However, it does have a pre-filter layer attached onto the HEPA filter that…