PURETi Transforms Surfaces into
Self-cleaning, Air Purifying Materials.

PURETi and COVID-19

We have been responding to an incredible number of inquiries asking about using PURETi as an anti-viral to help deter the spread of COVID-19, and this page is designed to share with you some of the scientific research about photocatalytic surfaces and viruses. 

From the time of its discovery, the benefits of photocatalytic TiO2 as an antimicrobial have been the focus of significant scientific study.  The basic function of the TiO2 nanoparticle is to generate hydroxyl radicals and super oxide anions from the water and oxygen in the air.  These two cleaning agents in turn have been shown to be effective against a wide range of organic pollutants (VOCs, soot, mold, bacteria, and viruses), as well as inorganic pollutants (NOx and SOx). 

Disclaimer:  We have not pursued the necessary government registrations to make anti-microbial product marketing claims.  We are not an EPA registered disinfectant and cannot make “kill claims” without it.

At PURETi, our focus has been on the use of photocatalytic TiO2 as an air purifier and surface cleaner.  However, in light of current events we feel it is important that people understand what options are available to them to create cleaner, healthier, safer environments.  No one that we are aware of has tested photocatalytic TiO2 specifically against COVID-19, but the way photocatalytic oxidation works (generating hydroxyl radicals and super oxide anions at the surface) is broadly anti-microbial as detailed below.

The following two papers can be found at the website of the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Biotechnical Information. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4523504/

Comparison of Infectious Agents Susceptibility to Photocatalytic Effects of Nanosized Titanium and Zinc Oxides: A Practical Approach “Methods using photocatalytic properties of nanosized TiO2 and ZnO prove to be highly efficient in inactivation of infectious agents…A reduction of infectious agent transmission in the public space can be achieved thanks to the photocatalytic properties of self-disinfecting and self-cleaning surfaces. Their crucial compounds are oxides of some metals, such as TiO2 and ZnO, which, after they have been powdered to NPs, exhibit strong virucidal, bactericidal, and fungicidal properties.”  J. Bogdan et al, Nanoscale Res Lett. 2015; 10: 309. Published online 2015 Aug 4. doi: 10.1186/s11671-015-1023-z

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22580561

Photocatalytic Inactivation of Influenza Virus by Titanium Dioxide Thin Film. “Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) under ultraviolet (UV) light produces a strong oxidative effect and may therefore be used as a photocatalytic disinfectant…Even with a low intensity of UV-A (0.01 mW cm(-2)), a viral reduction of approximately 4-log(10) was observed within a short irradiation time.” R. Nakano et al. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2012 Aug;11(8):1293-8. doi: 10.1039/c2pp05414k. Epub 2012 May 14.

During the avian flu crisis, we conducted one research study with the University of Minnesota to see the effectiveness of PURETi against feline calicivirus.  Recently, the CDC has stated that this virus is a proxy for the COVID-19 virus for purposes of evaluating disinfectants (though no testing has been done specifically to COVID-19). 

http://pureti.com/content/documents/Aug-2007-U.-of-Minn-DVL-report---PURETi-v-Feline-Virus.PDF

Note: The company name changed from TioxoClean to PURETi in 2008.

PURETi is committed to our mission to cost effectively improve human health and productivity and the environment by improving air quality.  We are confident that our best-in-class products play an important role in the ecosystem of solutions when endeavoring to create healthy environments. 

At a time when many businesses and families are looking to do everything possible to create healthier environments, we believe that treating surfaces that get exposure to UV-A light (outdoor surfaces, interior windows, light fixtures, curtains) is a simple and valuable contributor to an overall cleaning and disinfection program.  PURETi should not be used in lieu of any disinfection protocol, but we believe we can provide an additional layer of defense in this battle. 

Thank you for sharing our commitment, and please contact us if you have any questions at info@pureti.com.  Thank you for taking time to learn more about how PURETi can help create healthier and more productive environments.