Progress in the application of new ultraviolet disinfection technology

Abstract

With the pandemic of COVID-19, the World Health Organization warns that disease X is on the verge of a global outbreak, and the problem of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in medical and healthcare institutions becomes more serious. Compared with chemical disinfectants, ultraviolet light (UV), as a physical disinfection method, has received broad attention for its ability to kill a wide spectrum of microbial with high efficiency and rapidity, low drug-resistance, and direct use of the disinfected items after disinfection. Traditional low-pressure mercury UV lamps have been used to develop new disinfection equipment such as upper air disinfection systems, disinfection bracket lamps and automatic circuit disinfection vehicles. In addition, new UV disinfection lamps such as light-emitting diode (LED), pulsed xenon, and 222 nm lamps have been continuously iterated and upgraded, especially 222 nm UV lamps, which is a safer means of disinfection, and will provide new solutions for air and even object surface disinfection in the future. There is a complete set of laws, regulations and standards for disinfection products in China, as well as the maturity of new UV disinfection technologies. In view of the differences in product quality, the sensitivity of different pathogens to UV light, and the possible safety risks of using 222 nm UV light in the presence of people, this research reviews the new application of mercury UV lamp disinfection technology, the characteristics and application of new UV lamp disinfection technology, as well as the compliance, effectiveness, and safety of the new UV disinfection technology.

Keywords

• ultraviolet disinfection
• new ultraviolet lamp
• compliance
• effectiveness
• safety