Smoke Purification System

Cigar smoke is dense, so it takes a powerful air purifier to eradicate it. Choose one sized for your room and with a high tobacco smoke CADR rating, as well as smart features like an air sensor, auto mode, smartphone app connectivity and remote control.

Our top-rated smoke eaters eliminate secondhand smoke, odor and harmful toxins in rooms up to 1,125 ft2. Look for HEPA filters that capture particulate pollutants as well as carbon filters that trap odors.

Ventilation

In many cases, smoke purification systems work best when combined with ventilation. While conventional heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can remove large particles from indoor air, they don’t remove gases like carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

For this reason, it’s best to pair your smoke purification system with a ventilation solution. This is especially important during winter or when the weather outside makes opening a window impractical.

Ventilation solutions for smoke include extractor fans and air purifiers. Air purifiers are typically equipped with HEPA filters and activated carbon filtration. While a HEPA filter can capture most allergens, viruses, and bacteria, it won’t remove cigar smoke or other odors. Instead, a smoke-specific air cleaner is needed.

Activated carbon filters have a huge surface area with numerous pores that are designed to adsorb various chemicals, including cigar smoke odors. When activated carbon is paired with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, it’s called a combination PAC or Smoke purification system smoke-specific air cleaner. Some of the most popular models (including the Blueair Classic 680i) have a smoke CADR rating of more than 500, meaning they can effectively remove smoke and odors from rooms up to 700 square feet.

Some people also opt for a gas phase filter, which uses a material that can trap VOC molecules as they move through the air. These filters can get “used up” quickly, however, so they’re usually used in conjunction with a HEPA-only filtration unit.

HEPA Filtration

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters trap microscopic dust, mold spores, pet dander, viruses and other airborne allergens, which in turn help alleviate symptoms for allergy sufferers. In addition to other steps, such as removing houseplants and laundering draperies regularly, an HEPA filter is one of the best ways to reduce allergens in your home.

Most smoke purification systems have HEPA-rated filters that are certified to remove smoke, ash and certain VOCs from the air. VOCs are a group of organic molecules such as chemicals, phenols and carbon. They are often found in scented candles, perfumes and nail polish remover. They can be harmful if inhaled, but are released into the air when these products are burned, smoked or spilled.

When HEPA filters are used in conjunction with a carbon filter, they can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by catching the virus in its respiratory droplet form. Unlike most other airborne particles, COVID-19 attaches to the tiny respiratory droplets that are exhaled when infected individuals cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets are then able to be circulated throughout the air and can spread the virus in large numbers, which is why using a HEPA filter in conjunction with COVID-19 prevention methods is crucial during this time.

The filtration system in most smoke purification systems is comprised of a fan that draws the air from a room, which then passes through the filter. The fan then blows clean air back into the room. The HEPA filter is designed to Smoke purification system capture the contaminants and a carbon filter helps reduce odors from smoke and other sources.

Activated Carbon Filtration

Activated carbon filters control odors and gases, including the smell of smoke. They remove chemicals and micro pollutants by adsorption. Carbon is also used to reduce water contaminants, such as organics and chlorine, from drinking water. Activated carbon is typically used in centralised water treatment systems or at point-of-entry (POE) filtration.

Unlike other filter medias, carbon has a large surface area. A pound of carbon has a surface area that is approximately three times larger than the Pentagon. This allows a huge number of pollutants to come into contact with the carbon, which can then quickly and efficiently absorb or remove them.

Carbon is most effective when the molecule size of the substance it adsorbs is lower than its molecular weight. This is why it’s important to select the right carbon for the application. Carbons are screened for specific properties using tests such as the iodine number, molasses decolorizing efficiency, and water analysis.

Carbon is typically made from petroleum coke, bituminous coal, lignite, wood products, coconut shells, or peanut shell. It is “activated” by subjecting it to high temperature and low oxygen pressure: this process bakes off impurities and creates a carbon medium with many pores and a high surface area. It is then granularized or pulverized for use in carbon filters. Activated carbon is a highly reversible, non-toxic, environmentally friendly filtration medium.