What is photocatalytic oxidation?
Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) uses ultraviolet light and a catalyst, titanium dioxide, to form a powerful oxidising agent from the moisture in the air. PCO breaks down odours in the air that passes close to the coated surface, inside the purifier.
Where does PCO come from?
Photocatalytic oxidation is used around the world, from the International Space Station and hospitals to many household air purifiers. PCO is also used on the outside of buildings, to stop mould and mildew growing, and on the windows of high-rise buildings, to make them self-cleaning.
How does PCO work?
The name explains the process: photo (ultraviolet light), catalytic (a catalyst, such as titanium dioxide), oxidation (the odour is oxidised by what the catalyst forms). When the UV light shines on the titanium dioxide, the catalyst forms a powerful oxidising agent from the humidity in the air. That agent lasts only a fraction of a second, so the air has to pass very close to the coated surface to be treated.
Photocatalytic oxidation in the Garbage Doctor®
PCO works inside the second purifier of our dual air purification models, the Garbage Doctor 4000, 5000 and Platinum. Each has two purifiers: one makes ozone with our Si-Zone® UV generator, and the other holds a powerful UV-C lamp with plates coated in nano-grade titanium dioxide. The bin room's air passes through the second purifier, where the air is treated by the UV-C and PCO together, and returns to the room cleaner.
Talk to us about your building
Call 1300-ODOURS (1300 636 877), or send us photos of your bin room and chute, and we'll recommend the right system.
More guides
- What is ozone and how does it work?How ozone (O3) is made, and how ozone is used in commercial odour control equipment such as the Garbage Doctor.
- Types of ozone generatorsCorona discharge and ultraviolet ozone generators compared, and which is best for garbage odour control.
- Corrosion from ozone generators in garbage chutesHow the wrong kind of ozone generator can corrode a garbage system, particularly a steel chute base.
- Si-Zone ultraviolet ozone generatorsThe UV ozone generator inside every Garbage Doctor, with a long history of use against garbage odours.
- Electrical testing requirements for odour control equipmentWhy your supplier should be testing and tagging your odour control or scenting system, as local law requires.
- Duty of care surrounding the garbage systemWhy the owners corporation, strata committee or body corporate has a duty of care for the garbage system.
- How germicidal UV-C is used in garbage systemsHow germicidal UV-C differs from ozone, and where UV-C is used in garbage systems.
- Using scented vapour for garbage odour controlHow scenting adds a pleasant fragrance once the odour is neutralised, in a chute, bin room or public space.
- Garbage chute cleaning: why a clean chute can still smellWhy a freshly cleaned chute can still smell, and how chute cleaning and odour control work together.
- Why air fresheners alone don't fix bin room odourWhy sprays mask bin room odour for a while, why the odour comes back, and what neutralises the odour.
- Do extraction fans stop bin room odour?Why an extraction fan moves bin room odour around rather than removing the odour, and what works instead.
- Air conditioning in bin rooms: why it spreads odourWhy air blowing over the bins spreads more odour, how to set the air conditioning, and what neutralises the odour.