ECI Products Frequently Asked QuestionsOxiShield and OxiGuard Coatings DOES THIS REALLY WORK? PROVE IT!! HOW MUCH LIGHT DO I NEED TO ACTIVATE THE COATING? DOES THE LIGHT HAVE TO BE ON 24/7? WHAT EXACTLY WILL THIS PRODUCT DO FOR ME? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OXIDIZED MOLECULES? HOW DO I CLEAN THE TiO2 TREATED SURFACE? WHICH IS BETTER A FILTER OR PHOTO CATALYTIC COATINGS TECHNOLOGY? WHAT IS THIS GOING TO DO FOR ME? WHERE ELSE CAN I GET THIS TECHNOLOGY?
DOES THIS REALLY WORK? PROVE IT!! As with many “new” technologies some are real and some are just there to separate you from your money. Although new to you and most of the United States this technology has been in use for years, both in commercial and highly technical environments, mostly in Japan (over 90 hospitals and literally thousands of buildings have taken advantage of this technology in Asia). NASA is using this technology to clean the environment on the Space Lab. Here is a short list of some of the reports, agencies, academia, and independent labs that have tested, looked at, developed, and commented on this new technology (many of these reports are available, just give us a call!): NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration US Government) NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) AWWA (American Water Works Association) American Lung Association PAPERS Ionizing Radiation Induced Catalysis of Metal Oxide Particles prepared for the US Dept. of Energy by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Photo Oxidation of Organic Wastes Using Semiconductor Nano Clusters (3 year study) for the U S Dept. of Energy by the Sandia National Laboratory and Colorado State University Application of the Photocatalytic Chemistry of Titanium Dioxide to Disinfection and the Killing of Cancer cells, by the National Renewable Laboratory (Golden, Colorado) and the University of Missouri Alternative disinfectants and Oxidants Guidance Manual prepared by the US Environmental Protection Agency Destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds by Photocatalytic Oxidation prepared by SEMATCH and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory A Photocatalytic Membrane Reactor for Enhanced Destruction of Chloro-Organics in Aqueous Media presented by CeraMem Corp., Waltham, MA Photocatalytic Degradation of Toxins Secreted to Water by Cyanobacteria and Unicellular Algae and Photocatalytic Degradation of the Cells of Selected Microorganisms prepared and presented by the University Medical School of Silesia, Poland. Department of General and Analytical Chemistry These are only a small sample of the information that is available on this technology. There is over a thousand pages of information available about the remarkable capabilities of this new technology. Cleaning water (including your drinking water, fish ponds, pools, and bio-remediation), cleaning the air we breathe, sanitizing the surfaces we touch, destroying hard to treat wastes such as solvents, bio-weapon materials, and contaminated ground water. All using no external energy source but rather free sunlight or available ambient lighting.
HOW MUCH LIGHT DO I NEED TO ACTIVATE THE COATING? The ideal application will have about 4-6,000 lumens of light at the surface to activate the coating. At this level the coating will rapidly oxidize organic particles such as pollen, and organic material from manufacturing processes, as well as provide odor control, and rapid oxidation of bacteria and virus's. With the exception of commercial/industrial applications requiring rapid oxidation most applications will not require this much light. A florescent light from 30' can provide sufficient light to energize the coating to provide some odor control and slowly oxidize organic material. The amount of light required for each particular application will vary. A 100-watt light bulb provides about 1,500 lumens at 1 meter. Sunlight is defined as at least 120 wm¯².
DOES THE LIGHT HAVE TO BE ON 24/7? No. Dependent on each individual application normal ambient lighting is sufficient for the coating to do it's job. In normally unused areas such as a closet, basement, or storage lockers a small (25 watt) UV light source can be added. The coating will continue to provide protection for about 2 hours after removal of a light source. In addition the coating will provide germicidal activity even in the dark, but at a reduced rate. Our experts will help you determine what is best for your application.
WHAT EXACTLY WILL THIS PRODUCT DO FOR ME? It will improve the air quality in your home, office, and work place. It will eliminate much of the potential for transmission of bacteria or virus's from one person to another through surface contact as well as airborne pathogens. It will eliminate mold, mildew and the resultant odors they generate. Eliminate the use of strong and dangerous chemicals currently used to clean and disinfect surfaces in buildings and hospitals. It is common knowledge that bacteria and viruses are mutating due to the extensive use of anti-bacterial agents and pharmaceuticals. Our photo catalytic technology literally rips the molecules apart eliminating the continued mutation of these organisms. It will substantially reduce your cleaning "work load" to an occasional damp wipe of the surface with clean water due to it’s super hydrophilic properties. This product will oxidize all organic mater that comes in contact with the surface on a molecular level. What is organic? All odors are organic, virus's and bacteria are organic, the products of combustion (Volatile Organic Compounds or VOC's) are organic (this includes cigarette/cigar smoke and the smoke/odor from fires). Human and pet dander, dust mites, pollen, cooking oils, organic soils associated with bathrooms, and kitchens. Even spider webs are organic. On the outside of your home it will keep the exterior walls clean and free of organic material such as mold and mildew (which live on and eat your homes finnish). Every time it rains the super hydrophilic surface will allow any accumulated materials to freely flush from the surface. Streaking and staining of your home will be a thing of the past. The color of your home will last longer and the dusting of deteriorating paints will be a thing of the past.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OXIDIZED MOLECULES? The majority of organic material, when oxidized is broken down into (CO2)(carbon dioxide) and H2O (water). CO2 and water are used by plants during photosynthesis, which is a somewhat similar process to photocatalysis.
In an interior home/office environment this product will continue to provide protection for at least 10 years. On the exterior of a home or commercial building the life should be in the 7-10 year range dependent on the environment and the substrate. There will be many variables which determine how long the products work for you. If the surface is inadvertently scrubbed with chemicals and abrasives the life will be much shorter. Painting over the photocatalytic coating will stop the process. Our photo catalytic technology coatings are not "self consuming." Dependent on usage we generally give a 1-year labor and a 5-year product warrantee. This would require pre-qualification of your project and applicator.
As this technology was developed in Japan most of the commercial and residential applications to date have been done there. Over 7,000 of them. 90 applications have been done in hospitals to reduce the potential for secondary infections and odor control. In the United States you can now find glass from makers such as PPG supplying premium glass panels with the TiO2 technology for self-cleaning windows. Light bulbs are also available, mostly on-line, coated to provide self-cleaning and odor reduction advantages in living spaces. On the Space Station the technology has found a use to continually scrub the environment the astronauts live in. In the New York metro area a pharmaceutical lab and a mid-town hotel are using the technology for surface sterilization and mold/mildew/odor control respectively. In San Francisco the product has been applied to a home exterior with repetitive soiling issues. The interior of an automobile can be coated to remediate smoke or other odors. Scientists are currently looking at applications to kill cancer cells and a host of other medical uses. Small stick-on sun screens for cars are available overseas to protect the vehicles occupants and provide odor control.
HOW DO I CLEAN THE TiO2 TREATED SURFACE? As this substrate is virtually self cleaning it should not require cleaning. If it does require cleaning due to a heavy deposit of soil, a simple wipe with a damp (water only please) sponge or rag is required.
OxiGuard and OxiShield can be applied to most any surface. If the surface is organic (such as paint or silk wallpaper) our primer OxiShield would be applied first to protect the surface from attack. Portable or fixed medical equipment can be made self-sterilizing. One of the worst offenders, computer keyboards, can be made self-sterilizing with our portable "tool box" size spray applicator. For tile, composite counter tops, stone, marble, concrete, brick, glass, air filters, and uncoated metal surfaces such as stainless no primer is needed. Any and all of these surfaces can be made self-sanitizing and self-cleaning with an application of this incredible new technology. Your window screens can be coated to become self cleaning, air filters. The TiO2 would also prolong the life of your screens both metal and fiberglass. Air filters in you home/office heating air-conditioning system can become powerful anti-microbial and odor remediation tools with the addition of a small UV light to activate the coating. If you own an airline how about the inside of your plane? No more colds from flying as the walls/surfaces would continually scrub the air of pathogens and odors!
Below is a partial list of the materials that are remediated by this technology, many more materials have been, and are currently being tested. This list was compiled from a paper presented by the University at Leeds (England) titled Enterprise in Nano Technology, Self-Sanitizing Surfaces. In addition bio-weapon type materials have also been oxidized such as Anthrax by agencies such as NASA. The spread of SARS and other pandemic diseases can, potentially, be substantially limited in their spread by the use of our photo catalytic coatings in public buildings, and transportation. BACTERIA Escherichia coli Sseudomonas stutzeri Seratia marcescens Staphylococcus aureus Clostridium perfringens spores Salmonella typhimurium Streptococcus mutans Lactobacillus acidophilus Streptococcus cricetus Streptococcus rattus Actinomyces viscosus Bascillas pumilus Streptococcus sobrinus Bacillis subtilis VIRUSES Phage QB Phage MS-2 Poliovirus Lactobacillus phage PL-1 YEAST, FUNGI Saccharomyces cerevisiae Candida albicans Hyphomonas polymorpha
WHICH IS BETTER A FILTER OR PHOTO CATALYTIC COATINGS TECHNOLOGY? Don't take our word for it! You can find a wealth of information from the EPA, Consumers Reports, and a variety of other sources. A good HEPA filter is good; it removes particulate mater from the air. The electronic "breeze" type filters generate substantial amounts of ozone into your environment. Five to six times the more than the "acceptable" amount levels. Excess ozone can damage your respiratory system. Neither system kills or eliminates mold, mildew, viruses, or bacteria. Our photo-reactive coating does, and we can prove it! For a super clean environment the use of a good HEPA filter and our Photo Catalytic coatings would be the way to go. Who needs all this protection? Anyone with severe or multiple allergies (especially in your sleeping areas), anyone with a compromised immune system (chemo patients, auto immune disease), and the elderly at "high risk" due to age and other "issues". Hospitals, nursing homes, day care centers, offices, and your own home all can become healthier, safer, more pleasant environments.
WHAT IS THIS GOING TO DO FOR ME? According to the EPA (1996) 50% of all illnesses are a direct result of poor IAQ (indoor air quality). The EPA during years of testing has determined that at least 1 in 6 public buildings has poor or hazardous IAQ, including their own headquarters! The EPA has listed indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental problems in the United States. During the lifetime of most people over 80% of our breathing is done indoors! What is the most prevalent indoor contaminate? Animal and human dander! What happens to this dander? Dust mites feed on it. They, like any other organism, leave waste products. By using our products in your environment and eliminating these organics you can reduce your potential for illness by over 90%. Many of the products your building is made from, and the objects in it, are man made. Many give of dangerous products during there life. Both during the "new smell" period and throughout the years as they deteriorate. Many illnesses have been attributed to these products including lung cancer. As bacteria die or are destroyed they leave behind endo-toxins. Not only does our new technology kill the bacteria but it also destroys the Endo-toxins (which are worse than the bacteria in some cases). Research has shown that BTEX (an acronym for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xzylene) and NO (nitrogen oxide) are major contributors to poor indoor IAQ. Our new technology eliminates these compounds!
WHERE ELSE CAN I GET THIS TECHNOLOGY? The technology is available in a variety of forms. Specialized power air filters with baffles, coated with various nano particles, use fans to draw air in and strong ultra violet lights to activate the nano film. While effective they are rather expensive and require substantial (compared to our coating system) amounts of energy to operate and do have maintenance requirements. In addition some use alloys other than titanium dioxide which, while effective, give off gasses that are deleterious to human health. Their limitation is the amount of “scrubbing” surfaces and the amount of air drawn into the device. Light bulbs coated with TiO2 to clean your air are available on the internet. Fabric coated with TiO2 is available for hospital and healthcare use. The development of “consumer” products using this technology is underway as you read this. PPG and others major firms have, and are developing products using the TiO2 nano particles to enhance their products and our environment. The technology used to develop our coatings is a closely held series of patents held by a governmental agency in Japan. The agency has licensed the inventors of the technology the right to market their invention. They in turn have licensed a limited number of entities to further develop and market their invention. We at Environmental Coatings Inc. have been most fortunate to be one of the companies that have been chosen to develop and market the technology. The advances our group has made in the technology has provided a series of products that are easily applied, extremely active even in low light situations, and cost effective. Our manufacturing and marketing team have the only full license to develop, manufacture and market a full range of TiO2 nano-particle coatings based on the patents held in Japan in the United States.
FOR NANO TECHNOLOGY BASED PHOTOREACTIVE COATINGS AMORPHOUS MINERAL FILM: Is a mineral film that has no definite crystalline structure. CATALYST: Substance that can cause a change in the rate of a chemical reaction without itself being consumed in the reaction; the changing of the reaction rate by use of a catalyst is called catalysis. FUNGI: Fungi belongs to the kingdom of heterotrophic single-celled, multinucleated, or multicellular organisms, including yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Previously classified in the plant kingdom, fungi are non-motile, like plants, but lack the vascular tissues that form the true roots, stems, and leaves of plants. Unlike algae or plants, fungi lack the chlorophyll necessary for photosynthesis and must therefore live as parasites or saprobes. Typically they release digestive enzymes onto a food source, partially dissolving it to make the necessary organic or inorganic nutrients available. Some fungi are pathogenic to humans and other animals. Some molds, in particular, release toxic chemicals called mycotoxins that can result in poisoning or death. HEPA: High Efficiency Particulate Air (filter) is a disposable, extended medium, dry type filter with a particle removal efficiency of no less than 99.97 percent for 0.3 micrometer particles. HETEROGENEOUS PHOTOCATALYSIS: When exposed to artificial or natural/UV light this coating creates hydroxyl radicals and a superoxide anion, which oxidizes organic materials three times better than chlorine. This all has to do with the negative or positive “potential” of molecules, valence band and conduction band. The difference is called the “band gap energy” which makes all this work. This process in not self-consuming, and this coating product will last in an interior environment for 10 years or more. HVAC: Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning system. These systems regulate the temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and distribution of air. HYDROXYL RADICAL: The monovalent group- OH (Oxygen and Hydrogen) in such compounds as bases, some acids, and alcohols. Hydroxide is a polyatomic ion consisting of Hydrogen and Oxygen. Free radicals consist of an atom of group of atoms with at least one unpaired electron. IAQ INDOOR AIR QUALITY: This may also be referred to as Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). While this sounds like another one of those pseudo governmental issue’s that exist only in the mind of some bureaucrat, it is in fact a real problem affecting millions of people both in their home, at work, and in public buildings. Indoor air quality is affected by overcrowding, smoking, old/dirty/inadequate ventilation, excess humidity (which leads to mold and mildew), and VOC’s or volatile organic compounds (gasses) that are given off by carpeting, plants, paints, wall coverings, furniture, cleaning products, inks, combustion (fireplace/furnace) people, and plastics (I could go on, but you get the picture). All these components combine to create an environment where the air we breathe can, and does, contribute to sickness, lost wages, and lost productivity. Typical symptoms of poor IAQ may include, respiratory illness, headaches, eyes and/or skin irritation, nasal congestion, and dry and/or irritated nose or throat. Most of all, this is an environment that can breed and help spread highly contagious viruses, and bacteria. Research has shown, that even in a residential environment, indoor air quality is 80-90 times worse than outside air. INHALATION: Breathing. Once inhaled, contaminants can be deposited in the lungs, taken into the blood, or both. This can lead to long term respiratory illness or blood related diseases. INDOOR AIR POLLUTION: Air pollutants that occur within buildings or other enclosed spaces, as opposed to those occurring in outdoor environments, or in ambient air. Some examples of indoor air pollutants are nitrogen oxides, smoke, asbestos, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. Pollutants can be released from paint, adhesives, new carpeting, or new construction or equipment installations. LUMEN: Is a measurement of light output from a lamp LUX: This a measurement of light intensity falling on a surface. One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter To calculate the lux level on a surface certain things need to be considered: Room Dimensions MICROORGANISM: A microscopic organism, especially a bacterium, fungus, or a protist. MICRON: Twenty-five microns equal 1 mil or 1 thousands of an inch. 250 mils equal ¼” of an inch. Our coating when applied with primer is only .2-.4 microns thick or about 4 ten thousandths of an inch! MOLD: A common term for microscopic forms of fungi; a growth of fungi forming a furry patch, as on stale bread, cheese, plastic, etc. (also refer to spore). Mold and fungi are organisms with rigid cell walls but no chlorophyll. The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. All molds may cause allergic reactions in humans sensitive to mold. Molds will grow anywhere indoors where there is moisture and a food source. Many building materials provide this needed food source. Many materials consist of cellulose materials that are particularly suitable for mold growth when they are wet. Examples include paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products (also refer to Stachybotrys chartarum). MVOCS: Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds are volatile chemicals produced by the metabolism of fungi and bacteria. MYCOTOXIN: Certain molds (such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Chaetomium and Stachybotrys) release chemicals during their metabolic cycle called mycotoxins, which can be toxic to humans and animals. These chemicals can be found in the mold spores, within the mold itself, and in the materials that the mold is growing. Inhalation of mold spores or dust containing mycotoxins can result in potentially severe heath consequences. NANO: One billionth of a meter. Or .000000001 NANO TECHNOLOGY: Photo-catalytic technology began in 1969 when the properties of platinum and titanium dioxide were investigated while tying to extract hydrogen from water, for energy. In 1995 the phenomenon of super-hydrophilic substrates was discovered and has since been applied to a myriad of applications, including coatings. There are a variety of way’s to create these super small particles. The use of rapidly cycling, high voltage electric (electro-explosion), chemically oxidizing the surface, and chemical vapor deposition (these are somewhat simplistic descriptions of some rather complex procedures). In the first half of 2002, a number of patents were issued for photo-catalytic products that functioned in low-level and “normal” indoor lighting environments, which paved the way for practical coatings applications. This technology is already at work on the Space Lab project protecting the health of the astronauts. OXIDATION: The process of oxidizing. The addition of oxygen to a compound with the loss of electrons; always occurs accompanied by reduction which is a process in which one or more substances are changed into others. OXIGUARD: This is our workhorse for the commercial market. This product does all the work. (We do have other versions of these coatings to meet marine, aerospace, military applications) It reacts with the light to start the heterogeneous photocatalysis process. This process goes to work almost immediately upon application to a substrate. It cleans the air you breath by destroying any organic molecules that land on it. Any odor you smell is organic, every germ that is on the objects you touch every day are organic (an office in Manhattan was evaluated by a microbiologist from the University of Arizona and the results were distressing: hint do not go near that candy dish on the secretary’s desk!). Computer keyboards are among the most contaminated surfaces, particularly in healthcare facilities. OXISHIELD: This is our primer. As our nano-technology product is designed to oxidize organic molecules, any substrate that is made from organic materials (i.e.: leather, most paints, silk, wool, wood), needs to be protected from our active product. This primer is made from some of the same materials that make glass. PARTICULATE: A state of matter in which solid or liquid substances exist in the form of aggregated molecules or particles. Airborne particulate matter is typically in the size range of 0.01 to 100 micrometers. Particulate matter is a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in air, such as dust, fog, fume, mist, smoke, or sprays. Particulate matter suspended in air is commonly known as an aerosol. PHOTOCATALYTIC OXDATION (PCO): A chemical reaction influenced or initiated by light that removes electrons from a catalyst and adds those electrons to a compound. PHOTOCATALYSIS: Is a change in the rate of chemical reactions or their generation under the action of light in the presence of substances- photocatalysts that absorb light and are involved in chemical transformations of the reaction participants. PHOTOCATALYST:
SUPER HYDROPHILICITY: All objects are either hydrophobic (don’t like water and try to shed it, water beads up) or hydrophilic (really likes water and draws it in next to the surface) to some extent. Our product by drawing the water into a sheeting action (just like in your dishwasher) allows the surface to be rinsed much cleaner, much easier and when applied makes a substrate not only self sanitizing but quite literally self cleaning after the TiO2 oxidizes any organic materials. TITANIA/TITANIUM: In addition to being the largest moon of the planet Uranus, and the Queen of the Fairies in Shakespeare Midsummer’s Night Dream, it is a unique metal discovered in 1791 and finally made into a pure metal in 1910. Titanium is the 9th most abundant mineral on the planet Earth and can also be found in meteorites and moon rocks. The human body also contains trace amounts of titanium. TITANIUM DIOXIDE: This product is used to add whiteness to many food products, pharmaceutical products, paints, and papers. It is available in a variety of forms including rutile, brookite, and anatase (the last of which is what is used for our purpose). The size of the titanium dioxide particles used in our product is in the 5-10 nano particle size (or 5-10 billionths of a meter). It is no wonder you can’t see this product when it’s on the surface! Titanium dioxide is approved for use by the FDA and is considered a chemically stable and environmentally “friendly” safe substance. ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT (UV): The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum extending from the violet, or short-wavelength, end of the visible light range to the X-ray region. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is undetectable by the human eye, although when it falls on certain materials it may cause them to fluoresce and emit electromagnetic radiation of lower energy, such as visible light. VOCS - VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (OR CHEMICALS): Chemicals containing carbon are organic. Volatile means that they evaporate or get into the air easily which make them easier to breathe in. Examples of common VOCs include benzene, formaldehyde, and trichlorethylene., and organics produced by microbes.
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Myth |
Reality |
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| Removing and replacing lead-based paint or asbestos is the only abatement method accepted by the EPA. | The FiberTech encasement system provides an abatement method that is accepted by the EPA for the enclosure rather than removal of, hazardous materials. |
| Abatement stirs up hazardous materials creating air contamination. | FiberTech encasement methods are non-disruptive, and prevent dust and asbestos fibers from becoming airborne. |
| Effective abatement measures are too costly. | FiberTech encasement systems save 50% to 80% over traditional abatement methods by minimizing the disruption of business operations, downtime, and eliminating costly relocation. |