How Hydroxyl Generators Work

How Does a Titan Hydroxyl Generator Work?

Titan® hydroxyl generators, also called hydroxyl air purifiers, use a combination of UVA light, a titanium catalyst and humidity to create hydroxyl radicals that can react with certain airborne compounds.

Hydroxyl radicals occur naturally in outdoor air and play an important role in atmospheric chemistry. Titan technology uses a controlled photocatalytic process to produce hydroxyl radicals inside the machine for air-treatment applications.

The result is an air-treatment technology designed to help address unwanted odors and certain airborne organic compounds.

[SHOP TITAN HYDROXYL AIR PURIFIERS]

What Is a Hydroxyl Generator?

A hydroxyl generator is an air-treatment device designed to produce hydroxyl radicals through a photocatalytic process.

Titan hydroxyl systems combine three important elements:

UVA Light

Titan uses UVA light to activate the photocatalytic process.

Titanium Catalyst

A titanium-based catalyst works with the UVA light to facilitate the reaction.

Humidity

Water vapor in the air provides an important component of the process.

Together, these elements create hydroxyl radicals inside the Titan system.

How Titan Hydroxyl Technology Works

The process can be simplified into several stages.

1. Air Enters the Titan

The machine's fan draws surrounding air into the unit.

2. UVA Light Activates the Catalyst

Inside the Titan, UVA light interacts with the titanium catalyst.

3. Humidity Participates in the Reaction

Water vapor naturally present in the air participates in the photocatalytic process.

4. Hydroxyl Radicals Are Produced

The process produces highly reactive hydroxyl radicals.

5. Treated Air Returns to the Environment

The Titan circulates the treated air back into the surrounding space.

The hydroxyl radicals can react with certain airborne compounds, helping break down compounds associated with unwanted odors.

Why Hydroxyl Radicals Matter

Hydroxyl radicals are extremely reactive molecules that naturally occur in the atmosphere.

Outdoor sunlight, water vapor and atmospheric chemistry contribute to their formation.

Because hydroxyl radicals are highly reactive, they can participate in chemical reactions with many different airborne compounds.

Titan technology uses this basic atmospheric chemistry as the foundation of its hydroxyl air-treatment process.

Titan Hydroxyl Generators for Odor Control

One of the primary applications for Titan systems is professional odor control.

Unwanted odors can come from many sources, including:

  • Cannabis cultivation

  • Cigarette smoke

  • Fire and smoke damage

  • Pets

  • Cooking

  • Musty environments

  • Commercial facilities

  • Restoration projects

  • Industrial environments

  • Waste and organic materials

Titan hydroxyl air purifiers can be incorporated into an overall odor-remediation strategy designed to address the source of the odor, affected materials and the surrounding air.

How Titan Helps With Cannabis Odor

Cannabis cultivation and processing can create persistent odors that may spread throughout a building.

Titan hydroxyl air purifiers can be used in appropriate applications to help address airborne odors associated with:

  • Grow rooms

  • Flowering rooms

  • Drying rooms

  • Processing areas

  • Trimming areas

  • Storage areas

  • Commercial cultivation facilities

  • Former grow houses

For best results, air treatment should be combined with source control, ventilation, cleaning and appropriate filtration.

[LEARN ABOUT CANNABIS ODOR CONTROL]

How Titan Helps With Smoke Odor

Smoke can contain numerous compounds that contribute to persistent odors.

Titan hydroxyl technology can be incorporated into professional smoke-odor remediation following:

  • House fires

  • Wildfire smoke exposure

  • Cigarette smoke

  • Commercial fire damage

  • Restoration projects

Air treatment should be considered one component of a complete remediation process.

Affected surfaces, porous materials, HVAC systems and other potential odor reservoirs should also be evaluated.

[SHOP TITAN FOR SMOKE ODOR REMOVAL]

Hydroxyl vs. Ozone

Titan hydroxyl generators and ozone generators use fundamentally different technologies.

Hydroxyl

Titan uses:

UVA light + titanium catalyst + humidity

to produce hydroxyl radicals.

Ozone

Ozone generators intentionally produce ozone, which is a strong oxidizing agent.

Ozone can be hazardous to people at sufficient concentrations, so ozone treatment requires appropriate safety procedures and controls.

Hydroxyl and ozone therefore should not be considered interchangeable technologies.

The right solution depends on the application, environment, occupancy and treatment requirements.

Can a Titan Hydroxyl Generator Be Used in Occupied Spaces?

Titan hydroxyl systems are designed for air-treatment applications, but whether a particular space should be occupied during operation depends on the specific model, operating conditions, application and manufacturer's instructions.

Always follow the operating instructions and safety information supplied with your Titan system.

Do not assume that all hydroxyl generators or all air-treatment technologies have the same operatin