Assembly of UV-Ozone Reactor to Combat of Coronavirus and Other Pathogenic Microorganisms

Abstract

The contamination on the surface of objects caused by: fungi, microbes, bacteria and viruses (and also coronavirus) can be solved using UV rays and/or ozone gas. For this reason, a UV-Ozone reactor apparatus with low cost was mounted to test two different types of HID (high intensity discharge) lamps: high pressure mercury vapor lamp (HPMVL) and metal halide lamp (MHL), both with nominal power of 400 watts and E-40 (base, screw) were studied as possible method of disinfection. Each lamp used the respective electromagnetic ballasts and both were manufactured by Osram Company. These lamps have two bulb types: the outer bulb which was removed and it is responsible for filtering the ultraviolet wavelengths and the internal bulb (where there is mercury, argon or metal halide confined at high pressure) that is the main source of ultraviolet rays. The complete apparatus was assembled using: aluminum reflector (used as a chamber), two microcomputer fans and a wooden base covered by an aluminum foil. A rubber strip was placed at the edge of the reflector for better adhesion on the aluminum foil (for better confinement ozone gas). The ozone concentration inside the reactor was measured with a monitor, the temperatures were measured near lamps with a thermocouple and a spectroradiometer with optical fiber was used to obtain the wavelengths. The results revealed to the elapsed time of 2 minutes a maximum peak of ozone concentration of 23 ppm for LVMAP, while the MHL presented 4.5 ppm only. The temperature obtained by HPMVL was lower with 31.5 ºC, while the MHL presented 48.0 ºC. The HPMVL presented higher amount of wavelengths at the ranges: UV-A, UV-B and UV-C, while the MHL presented only UV-A. For these reasons, it is suggested to be most promissory the use of HPMVL to combat the coronavirus and other pathogenic microorganisms.