| If you were questioned about the difference | | | | heavy. Because of the weight they end up falling |
| between an air purifier and an air cleaner, how | | | | on the floor and hence the air gets cleansed. |
| would you explain it? I would have said they are | | | | The science behind the ionic air purifiers is simple |
| the one and the same. Wouldn't you agree? | | | | to understand. Their low energy usage and the |
| Well it's a common misconception that an air | | | | fact that they do not require any filters to be |
| purifier is the same as an air cleaner. But in reality | | | | changed make them very popular. |
| these two products are totally separate things. To | | | | As mentioned above, the ionic purifier causes air |
| explain it in brief, an air cleaner will filter out | | | | particles to become heavy and gravity takes care |
| particles from the air which may be considered | | | | of the rest. However on their descent they also |
| harmful. On the other hand an air purifier kills | | | | come in contact with surfaces like a table top or |
| micro-organisms in the air like bacteria, viruses | | | | a piece of furniture. Since the surfaces of these |
| and even mold. Air Ionizers are essentially air | | | | elements are positively charged, the particles |
| cleaners. They are termed as purifiers but cannot | | | | from the ionic air are attracted to these surfaces |
| kill the micro-organisms to purify the air. | | | | and stick to them. Because of this you will always |
| Ionic air purifiers (or air ionizers) work with the aid | | | | find the area around the ionizer dirty. |
| of negative ions. As a matter of fact they are | | | | Since the particles land up on the floor and other |
| built around a negative ion generator. Negative | | | | surfaces it is quite easy for them to return back |
| ions are nothing but an atom or a molecule which | | | | to the air. All it needs is a little breeze or a little |
| is devoid of an electron. The generator sends out | | | | activity and they would be back in the air. To |
| streams of them. Since the airborne dust and | | | | counter this, a few ionizers have special |
| particles are positively charged, the negative ions | | | | electrostatic precipitators which contain charged |
| are attracted to them. | | | | metallic plates. The particles are trapped by these |
| Once the positive and the negative ions join | | | | metallic plates. However you would need to clean |
| together, they make the particles in the ionic air | | | | the plates periodically. |