What to Look For in a Smoke Purifier
The best smoke purifier is one that has high quality filtration technology with a large activated carbon filter. Specialist carbon filters contain around a kilo of activated carbon and work well at adsorbing tobacco smoke chemicals and odors.
Look for a HEPA filter with a big carbon layer and a high smoke CADR rating. Avoid ozone generators and ionizing filters, as they add ozone smoke purifier to the air which is harmful in high concentrations.
Activated Carbon
Activated carbon is the most versatile of all adsorbents because of its large surface area, multi-modal (but essentially microporous) porous structure, high adsorption capacity and variable surface chemical composition. Carbons are usually sized to treat either gas or liquid streams and they are available in powdered or granular form.
Generally speaking, carbons can be used to remove a wide range of organic chemicals from air and liquid streams. Their effectiveness in removing chemicals is often due to the huge number of chemical bonding sites that are available on their surface. When chemicals come into contact with the carbon, they are adsorbed (attached).
Many different materials can be used to make activated carbon including coal, wood and coconut shell. The key is the process that they are subjected to prior to use. The material is “activated” through a heating process which changes the internal pore structures and surface chemical composition.
The type of carbon that is best for a given application is often determined by the concentration and molecular weight of the chemicals to be removed. Carbons are also sized and designed for the loading (amount of carbon per volume of stream being treated) and the contact time required. A General Carbon representative can help determine the optimum adsorption design for your project. Carbons can also be regenerated which reduces the cost of treatment by eliminating the need to purchase and transport fresh carbon.
HEPA
You’ll want to purchase a commercial smoke air purifier with a HEPA filter and packed activated carbon to help eliminate chemicals and second hand cigarette and cigar smoke odors. This helps protect customers, employees and equipment from harmful second hand smoke and fumes that are difficult to clean with just air circulation.
When the unit is running, its fan sucks up and circulates the air through its filters. The HEPA filters are able to trap pollutants through three mechanisms: diffusion, interception and impaction. Diffusion is when air molecules that are small collide with the filter fibers and stick to them. Interception is when air particles move along the surface of the filter and stick to them. And impaction is when larger particles of a pollutant like smoke or dust embed themselves directly into the filter.
The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ has a Particle + Carbon Filter that uses all three of these mechanisms to remove pollutants from the air. This filtration system also includes a washable pre-filter that can help keep the HEPA filter cleaner longer, which improves performance and longevity. Additionally, it doesn’t use ionizer technology to perform its cleaning, smoke purifier which makes it safer for people who are sensitive to chemical fumes. A replacement indicator lets you know when it’s time to change the HEPA filter.
Particle + Carbon Filter
Most air purifiers can remove solid airborne particles (like dust, pollen & mold spores) and viruses & bacteria through mechanical filtration. They cannot, however, filter gases like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and harmful odors. These require a different type of filter medium.
Carbon has a very large surface area which makes it ideal for trapping gas pollutants. To improve its ability to trap specific gasses, activated carbon is often “treated” or “impregnated”. Examples include acidic or corrosive chemicals like potassium permanganate and odor causing molecules such as formaldehyde.
In addition to being able to trap VOCs and odors, carbon can also trap chlorine. Chlorine is a harmful chemical that makes your water and food taste nasty and causes skin irritation. Carbon is able to remove chlorine by changing its molecular structure and converting it into a harmless compound called chloride.
If you are looking for an air purifier that can remove both VOCs and odors from your home, a particle + carbon filter is the best choice. This dual-filter combines a nonwoven, multi-layer PET/PP blend of shred-resistant fibers with an activated carbon pellet honeycomb core. It can trap 99% of PM 2.5, smoke & cigarette odors, household odors, viruses & bacteria and harmful volatile organic compounds down to 0.1 microns in size. It can even remove a broad range of harmful bacteria and other microorganisms, including coliform, cysts and lead, through chemical and mechanical filtration.
Auto Mode
If you prefer to let the purifier do the work for you, opt for a unit that has an auto mode. This feature will monitor your space’s air quality, switch on when it detects pollutants and automatically adjust its speed accordingly.
For odor control, look for an Activated Carbon filter. This porous material adsorbs odors from cigar smoke, leaving your home feeling and smelling fresher. Lastly, pay attention to the air purifier’s power—the higher its CADR rating, the better it will be at eliminating secondhand cigar smoke and other pollutants from your home or workplace.
The Alen 75i is a top pick for smoke removal because it offers powerful fans, HEPA and Activated Carbon filters and a variety of smart features to improve your lifestyle. These include a smartphone app or smart speaker compatibility, so you can control your purifier remotely. It also has an air sensor and auto mode, so it will automatically detect pollutants—including cigar smoke—and start to clean your home. And with a noise range of 25 to 49 dB, this purifier will not disrupt your smoking sessions.