Markets

Our commercial UV light sanitizer minimizes contact time and additions to water or food, with no harmful by-products or changes to appearance or quality.

Utilizing a UV food sterilizer in your food or beverage manufacturing decreases the contact time utilized with other types of disinfection processes.  Not only is it fast and effective, but it also cuts costs and is environmentally friendly.

UV Sterilizers have conventionally been used to treat water that is clean and fresh, but it can also be used to effectively disinfect not-so-clear water streams provided the UV equipment is sized appropriately to account for the difference in water quality.

Commercial UV Light Sanitizer for
Water and Food Treatment:

The manufacturing market of food and beverage includes but
is not limited to bottled water, food packaging, crop irrigation, carbonated beverages, product water for concentrates, soft drinks, tea, beer (microbrewers), wine, juice, vegetable wash water, meat, and poultry processing.

Many bottled water and soft drink producers around the globe rely on industrial UV food sterilizers to provide microbial-free, pure water and ingredients, which help protect the ‘brand’, and the flavor, and extend shelf life.

Manufacturing Resources

Aqua Ultraviolet has over four decades of experience in manufacturing commercial UV light sterilizers to provide custom solutions to a wide variety of applications.

Ultraviolet (UV) light is a form of light that is invisible to the human eye.  It occupies the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between x-rays and visible light.  A unique characteristic of UV light is that a specific range of its wavelengths, those between 200 and 300 nanometers
(billionths of a meter), are categorized as germicidal – meaning commercial UV light sanitizers are capable of inactivating microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

Aqua Ultraviolet Manufacturing UV
Systems

Aqua Ultraviolet (UV) Sterilizers System plays an important
role in a complete water treatment process in food and beverage
manufacturing. 

Applications in Manufacturing of
Commercial UV Light Sanitizer for Water & Food Treatment

 Bottled water products are produced utilizing a multi-barrier approach, from source to finished product, that helps prevent possible harmful microorganisms or chemicals from contaminating the finished product or storage, production, and
transportation equipment.

Effective use of UV located at strategic points in the process can protect the overall integrity of the end product, and lower maintenance costs by decreasing the microbial load.

It can also reduce some CIP sanitation frequencies and related maintenance on the equipment.

UV Disinfection does not add anything to the Watering Systems within a Greenhouse Environment.

Crop irrigation in the greenhouse growing industries continues to BOOM!

As new technological advances and the escalating need for fresh food products and now the booming cannabis industry continues to climb so does the need for finding safer and more cost-effective water filtration solutions such as UV light for greenhouses.

Water is a key component of successful crops whether you’re growing the traditional way or with hydroponic water filter systems, but also accounts for the expensive loss that can occur to these crops if it is not regulated correctly.

Greenhouse UV light in greenhouses is key, it is easy to install or retrofit into an existing system, and requires much less time than other filtration methods. 

This versatile technology has also been proven to be very effective in eliminating mold, so a new application is now starting to be used by marijuana “grow houses” in States permitted to cultivate, harvest, and sell marijuana. You probably never considered mold in your weed as a problem from a legal grow house since they are all closely managed and regulated. However, since many of these commercial farms are indoors mold is now a recognized problem with commercial grow houses.

Greenhouse UV Light Sterilization is – 

• Fast
• Effective
• Efficient
• Economical
• Environmentally Friendly

UV has conventionally been used to treat water that is clear & fresh, but it can also be used to effectively disinfect non-conventional water sources like hydroponic filtering systems.

Aqua Ultraviolet Greenhouse UV Light systems:

• Greenhouse Growers
• Horticulture Industry
• Hemp Industry

Producers around the globe are looking to rely on UV to provide microbial-free, pure water and ingredients, which help protect the crop and deliver a quality product to the consumer.

Effective use of greenhouse UV light located at strategic points in the process can protect the overall integrity of the end product, and lower maintenance costs by decreasing the microbial load.

Greenhouse Environment Resources

• UV Disinfection in a Growhouse Environment

Quick Fact – Using ultraviolet light, or UV has been utilized in medical treatment for the prevention and treatment of disease as far back as the late 19th century. Researchers first realized the benefits when they experimented with UV light in patients with lupus and sepsis. UV light is still used for medical treatment but found its real niche is being used in multiple types of applications for disinfection and purification of air and water.

Aqua Ultraviolet Greenhouse UV Light Hydroponics Solutions

• Classic Series
• SL Series
• Viper Series

UV Applications in Grow Houses

There are pros and cons to utilizing UV light hydroponics in greenhouse applications and there may be a need to replace some trace elements back into the water after processing.  However, as the highlighted pro’s below show, the UV disinfection process is indicative of a much Safer and environmentally friendly water sterilization process.

• Saving on Pesticide Sprays
• Improved Crop Quality
• No Residue on the Crops
• Less Stress for the Crops
• Ensuring a Healthy Environment for Greenhouse Workers
• Biological Control Agents are Not Harmed

Aquarium Enthusiasts abound! If you’re a hobbyist or professional, a UV Sterilizer for aquariums is up your alley!

Saltwater and Freshwater Enthusiasts alike are constantly looking for better ways to help them keep their aquariums clean and safe – let our UV Sterilizers help with the heavy lifting.

Aqua UV Lights for Aquariums Work in:

• Freshwater Aquariums
• Saltwater Aquariums
• Coral Farming
• Ponds
• Zoos

Aquarium UV Light Resources

Aqua Ultraviolet has over four decades of experience in manufacturing UV sterilizers for aquariums to provide custom solutions to a wide variety of applications.

Ultraviolet (UV) light is a form of light that is invisible to the human eye.  It occupies the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between x-rays and visible light.  A unique characteristic of an aquarium UV light is that a specific range of its wavelengths, those between 200 and 300 nanometers (billionths of a meter), are categorized as germicidal – meaning they are capable of inactivating microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

Common Fish Diseases that can be Controlled with the Correct Aquarium UV Sterilizer Application

Aeromonas Spp.

Aeromonas is a type of bacteria that is commonly found in freshwater ponds and aquariums.  This germ can cause disease in fish and amphibians. Aeromonas can cause discoloration of the limbs of amphibians and the fins of fish. It can also cause internal bleeding in these aquatic animals. People can become infected through open wounds or by drinking contaminated water.  Young children and adults with weak immune systems are most commonly affected and may have diarrhea or blood infections. Maintaining good water quality with the help of aquarium UV Sterilizers, promptly removing dead fish, and practicing healthy habits, including handwashing, will reduce the risk of Aeromonas infection.

Mycobacterium Marinum

Mycobacterium marinum is a type of bacteria that causes disease in fish, reptiles, and amphibians. This germ is found in freshwater ponds and aquariums. It is spread to people and animals through contaminated aquarium water. All fish are susceptible to mycobacteriosis. This disease is typically slow growing in fish but can affect some fish more quickly. Affected fish may show no signs of illness or may stop eating, lose their fins or scales, develop sores, or appear deformed. People can become infected with Mycobacterium marinum by having direct contact with infected animals or contaminated water (for example, contaminated ponds or aquariums). The most common sign of infection is the development of a skin infection.  In very rare cases, the bacteria can spread throughout the body systems.  Infections progress slowly and may get better on their own. In some instances, antibiotics and surgical wound treatments are required to prevent deep infection.

Salmonella Spp.

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that spreads to people and animals through contaminated food or contact with the stool or habitat of certain animals, including fish. An animal’s aquarium or terrarium may also be a source of Salmonella, which is why an aquarium UV sterilizer is very important.  Fish carrying Salmonella often do not show any signs of disease. Aquariums that contain reptiles or amphibians in addition to fish are at a higher risk for having Salmonella.

People infected with Salmonella might have diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or abdominal cramps. Infants, elderly persons, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.

Streptococcus Iniae

Aquarium UV Sterilizers can also remove Streptococcus iniae— a type of bacteria that causes serious disease in fish. Fish dying from streptococcal disease often have a disoriented, whirling motion at the water surface, hence the common name of “mad fish disease.” Fish affected by this disease may have small red areas on their skin and may develop a swollen abdomen and bulging eyes.

People, especially those with open skin abrasions or scrapes, could get infected by Streptococcus iniae bacteria while handling fish or cleaning aquariums. Affected people usually develop a skin infection at the site of open cuts or scrapes. Though rare, more serious illnesses can happen in people with weakened immune systems.

Aquarium UV Sterilizer Applications

• Disinfection – the most common application of UV in water treatment. Aquarium UV light systems significantly reduce pathogen counts in incubation and rearing facilities and have proven to be the most cost-effective disinfection technology for the inactivation of many types of bacteria, viruses, and parasites harmful to many species of fish.

What is Ultraviolet?

Ultraviolet light is part of the light spectrum, which is classified into three wavelength ranges:

• UV-C, from 100 nanometers (nm) to 280 nm
• UV-B, from 280 nm to 315 nm
• UV-A, from 315 nm to 400 nm

What is Germicidal Ultraviolet?

UV-C light is germicidal – i.e., it deactivates the DNA of bacteria, virus and other pathogens and thus destroys their ability to multiply and cause disease. Specifically, UV-C light causes damage to the nucleic acid of microorganisms by forming covalent bonds between certain adjacent bases in the DNA. The formation of such bonds prevent the DNA from being unzipped for replication, and the organism is unable to reproduce. In fact, when the organism tries to replicate, it dies.

What are the beneficial uses of Germicidal Ultraviolet?

Ultraviolet technology is a non-chemical approach to disinfection. In this method of disinfection, nothing is added which makes this process simple, inexpensive and requires very low maintenance. Ultraviolet purifiers utilize germicidal lamps that are designed and calculated to produce a certain dosage of ultraviolet (usually at least 16,000 microwatt seconds per square centimeter but many units actually have a much higher dosage.) The principle of design is based on a product of time and intensity – you must have a certain amount of both for a successful design.

How do Ultraviolet Purifiers work?

Aqua Ultraviolet Air Sterilizer units contain one or more germicidal ultraviolet lamps. Germicidal Lamps are shortwave, low pressure tubes that produce ultraviolet wavelengths lethal to microorganisms. Approximately 95% of the ultraviolet energy emitted from germicidal lamps is at 254 nanometers, the region of germicidal effectiveness most destructive to bacteria, mold and virus. Therefore, the water or air that passes through the chamber is exposed to the germicidal uv light and the genetic material of the microorganism is deactivated, which preventing them from reproduction and rendering them harmless.

Why UV-C Cannot Produce Ozone

The Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UV-C) wavelength is an invaluable tool for an HVACR system. By leveraging germicidal energy to keep refrigeration coils free of microbial growth, facility managers also enjoy the benefit of reducing the spread of airborne infectious agents.  

However, some facility managers may hesitate to leverage these benefits for their application due to a concern about ozone. While the Ultraviolet spectrum contains four separate wavelengths—UV-A, B, C and Vacuum UV—each operates at different energy levels and only one is capable of producing ozone (Vacuum UV).

As you’ll note in the graphic below, Vacuum UV operates in the 100-200nm range, where it is capable of producing ozone. UV-C, conversely, reaches its optimal germicidal strength near 253.7nm. Because ozone may only be produced below 200nm, at 253.7nm (rounded to 254nm), the germicidal wavelength does not generate ozone.

In addition to the stronger 254nm wavelength that does not produce ozone, UV-C lamps offer another layer of ozone protection.

Most germicidal lamps, including those from UV Resources, are produced with doped quartz glass, which blocks the transmission of the 185nm ozone-producing wavelength. The doped quartz glass allows the 253.7nm radiation to pass through, but it blocks the 185nm wavelength from escaping. Therefore, germicidal lamps with doped glass CANNOT produce ozone.

WHAT IS OZONE?

Ozone is present in low concentrations throughout the earth’s atmosphere. Some researchers say that this chemical is “good up high, but bad down low.” Without the ozone layer protecting our Earth’s stratosphere, for example, the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation would make life on Earth uninhabitable. At street level, however, a high concentration of ozone is toxic to plants and animals. In humans, ozone can irritate nasal passages, cause nausea and extended exposure can lead to lung inflammation.

Ozone, also called Vacuum Ultraviolet (UV-V), is a gas molecule that contains three (3) oxygen atoms – and as such, it has a destabilizing effect on oxygen in the air (leading to its irritation and danger to humans). A UV lamp “tuned” to 185nm can create ozone from oxygen (O2) by disrupting the O2 molecule and splitting it into two oxygen atoms. These two oxygen atoms attempt to attach to other oxygen molecule (O2). It is the attachment of this third oxygen atom that creates ozone (O3).

Ironically, UV light in the 240-315nm wavelength will break this third oxygen atom attachment above and convert it back to oxygen. The peak ozone destruction occurs at the 254nm wavelength. So, a UV-C lamp at the 253.7nm wavelength will actually destroy ozone!

ASHRAE has said that certain air cleaners produce ozone and thus, its position is to recommend discontinuing utilizing “devices that use the reactivity of ozone for the purpose of cleaning the air.”[1]

KEEPING PERFORMANCE SUSTAINABLE 

Keeping buildings operating at their most efficient level and sustaining that performance over the life of a building is one of today’s key challenges for specifying engineers, HVACR contractors and facility managers. Today, with germicidal technology, virtually all HVACR systems are potential candidates because of the many proven operational benefits it offers, including: (a) destruction of surface and airborne microorganisms; (b) the restoration and preservation of heat transfer and airflow capacities to “as-built” conditions; (c) greatly improved indoor air quality; and (d) reduced maintenance.

Again, while UV-C technology has been proven to restore HVACR performance to its original capacity, specifying engineers, HVACR contractors and facility managers can rest assured that the germicidal wavelength is incapable of producing ozone. Moreover, the 253.7nm germicidal wavelength will destroy ozone.

So stay ozone free in the 254nm zone.