What is UVC Light Disinfection?

UVC Light Disinfection is an effective cleaning solution for surfaces, air, and water.


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The Electromagnetic Spectrum UV Disinfection
The Electromagnetic Spectrum

What is UVC Light Disinfection?

UVC ultraviolet light, also known as UVC light, is a well-known and market-proven disinfection solution. It is a cleantech solution, which has been actively used for more than 40 years to boost healthier environments and lift sanitation standards. UV light disinfection is globally acknowledged as one of the most efficient methods to disinfect water, air, and surfaces.

As UVC light has shorter wavelengths than visible light, it is invisible to the human eye. Short-wave UVC light harms DNA cell structures and sterilizes all surfaces it comes into contact with. The sun also radiates UVC light, but luckily, the atmosphere protects us from the most harmful UVC ultraviolet light.

UV light is divided into three categories, being UVA light, UVB light, and UVC light. Together, they have a bandwidth between 200-400 nanometers (nm). UVC light is germicidal and is considered the hardest type of UV light. It has the shortest wavelength ranging between 200-280 nm.

UVC light can effectively kill microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, pathogens, and protozoa.

When microorganisms are exposed to UVC light disinfection, their DNA will absorb the UVC light, ultimately harming the DNA cell structure. This will make the microorganisms unable to reproduce and thus, stop their growth.

DNA String UV C LED Disinfection

How UVC light disinfection works

For UVC light disinfection, we use short wavelengths ranging between 200-280 nm. 280 nm is the peak germicidal wavelength, where we see the maximum inactivation of the DNA structure in bacteria and viruses. UVC sterilizer light causes damage to the nucleic acid in cells by forming covalent bonds between certain adjacent DNA bases.

These bonds prevent the DNA from replication, and the organism cannot reproduce and thus, dies.

For the Human Health and the Environment

All our UVC light disinfection systems are made of clean materials and do not use any harmful chemicals. They provide instant disinfection cleanly and healthily for human health and the environment.

Currently, the majority of UV light disinfection machines are low- or medium-pressure mercury lamps. These lamps are widely used in water treatment systems. However, they are associated with being fragile and containing toxic mercury, which is hazardous to human health and the environment.

Moreover, these lamps require significant energy to operate due to low efficiency of around 15-35% compared to the most efficient UVC light sterilization solutions. Simultaneously, they have a lifetime of approximately 8,000 hours.

UV light disinfection systems are an environmentally friendly, chemical-free, and highly effective way to disinfect and safeguard water, air, and surfaces against harmful microorganisms. It is both safer, smarter and delivers cost savings. Moreover, our UVC light disinfection systems contribute to energy efficiency and have a lifetime of approximately 44,000 hours.

Benefits of the UVC Light Technology

UV-LEDs have several advantages

  • Environmentally friendly (no mercury or other harmful elements)
  • Compactness and robustness (more durable)
  • Faster start-up time (no warm-up time)
  • Reduced energy consumption
  • Longer lifetime
  • Ability to turn on and off with high frequency
  • Do not add taste, odor, or color to the water
  • No maintenance
  • Small footprint
  • Plug n’ play – easy install
  • High UV dose
  • Only “on” when necessary
  • Cost-efficient

Application areas

  • Air
  • Surfaces
  • Water

All these factors make UVC sterilizer light a better solution than conventional UV mercury lamps for disinfection of air, surfaces, and water.

Parameter Mercury lamp UV LED
Bulb lifetime 10,000 hours 44,000 hours
Warm-up time 2 - 15 minutes Instant on/off
On/off cycle Lifetime degradation No degradation
Design Cylindrical tubes No restrictions
Heavy metals Mercury None
Voltage High Low

Say Goodbye to Diseases

UV light disinfection can control and prevent outbreaks of several severe diseases. Major cities around the world have already adopted UV technology for improved human health.

Contaminants in water can lead to adverse health effects, including gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders. With our intelligent UV water disinfection, you can say goodbye to waterborne diseases and drink clean, safe, and better water. Major cities in the United States, Canada, and Europe have already adopted UVC light as their primary disinfection process.

UV Light Disinfection for the Current and Future Generations

Clean, better, and safer drinking water, surfaces, and air for all.

At LiqTech, we want to take an active role in ensuring that clean and sustainable water and sanitation are available for all. And although rapid improvement occurs, the fact is that many people do not have access to clean and safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

  • 1 in 3 people globally do not have access to clean and safe drinking water

  • 2.5 billion people, equivalent to more than 35 % of the world’s population, lack access to improved sanitation

  • 4-32 million annual cases of acute gastrointestinal illness are caused by inadequate public waterworks

  • Water transmitted pathogens cause 477,000 annual emergency department visits

  • Water transmitted pathogens cause 6,939 yearly deaths

  • 55 % of the annual 1.2 million Giardia infections are caused by infected drinking water

  • 8 million people drink water contaminated with feces

    … and the list goes on

Do you need more information?

If you need more information about UV-C LED disinfection, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We are ready to help you