Catalyx Technologies logo. A blue molecular-network letter C sits beside the words Catalyx technologies. The mark identifies the company behind FRESH+ photocatalytic oxidation air systems and water-treatment research.

PCO+UV

Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO): the technology behind Catalyx

An advanced oxidation process, commercialized for air in FRESH+™ systems and now the basis of a water-treatment research program.

The chemistry

Photocatalytic oxidation is an advanced oxidation process. When a semiconductor photocatalyst absorbs UV light, it creates electron–hole pairs at its surface. Those react with water and oxygen to form hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and other reactive oxygen species. Hydroxyl radicals oxidize a broad range of organic compounds, and with enough contact time the end products are carbon dioxide and water.

Proven in air: FRESH+™ PCO+UV

FRESH+™ systems pair two mechanisms in one sealed unit:

  • Photocatalytic oxidation: UV-C light activates proprietary catalytic filters that adsorb and oxidize VOCs, including ethylene gas and odors.
  • UV-C (200–280 nm) germicidal light: damages the DNA of mold and microbes so they can't replicate.

Air recirculates through the unit, and treatment happens inside it, so nothing is released into the room. The lamps are designed to block ozone-forming wavelengths, so the systems are ozone-free. There are no potassium-permanganate pellets to store, replace, or dispose of.

See the FRESH+™ models, from EC-30 to EC-1000.

What commercialization taught us

Moving PCO from bench to cold rooms that run 24/7 meant solving the problems that stop most lab chemistry: catalyst durability, lamp life (lamps rated for 2 years, shatterproof Teflon coating), airflow design, prefiltration (MERV 8–13) to protect the catalyst, and equipment that operators can maintain. That engineering carries directly into water.

Measured field results are not published on this page.

Applying PCO to water

In water, photocatalysis faces different engineering problems: mass transfer to the catalyst surface, light penetration through turbid water, catalyst immobilization (avoiding slurry recovery), fouling, and scavenging of radicals by background water chemistry.

The narrower focus of the water program will be added once it is confirmed. See the Water R&D program.

Patents

Catalyx holds US and international patents on the FRESH+™ system design.

Further reading

These are independent references on photocatalytic oxidation and ethylene. They are not Catalyx results, and they are not performance claims for FRESH+™ or for the water program.