03/01/2007 • Focus on Products at Analytica • Food design, hygiene and monitoring • Hygiene • Installation • Laboratory installation / Services

“Virus Washer” system / air purifying system / suppress avian influenza viruses, airborne bacteria, viruses and allergens

Over recent years people have become increasingly concerned with air quality but until now there have not been many effective methods to suppress airborne bacteria, viruses and allergens, especially those that exist in large spaces. In order to solve this problem, SANYO has developed the ‘Virus Washer’ system, which suppresses and removes bacteria without the use of any chemicals. The ‘Virus Washer’ system utilises tap water, which is very accessible, and SANYO’s proprietary electrolysed water technology. The product line up of ‘Virus washer’ systems ranges from home use to commercial use, providing comfort and safety for everyday life. The new ‘Virus Washer’ products will be initially be available in Japan and will be available in Europe in 2007.

How it works

The ‘Virus Washer’ system is effective in removing bacteria by electrolysis of tap water, which is readily available. This is possible by using the effect of electrolysis hypochlorous acid, which generates electrolysed water. Electrolysed water has a high level of safety and is capable of maintaining and effective state, when is comes in contact with bacteria and viruses will form hydroxyl radical, and remove viruses*1, bacteria, mold*2, organic dirt, odour, and oxidative decomposition of dye.

‘Virus Washer’ system is highly effective without filter trapping due to the contact between electrolysed water and the air. In test in a 2m3 chamber of airborne bacteria, after operating the air purifier, the number of airborne bacteria in 5 minutes decreased*3 below 1/1,000,000*4.

SANYO started employing electrolysed water technology in products in 1987, for a cup type vending machine, installed a hygienic maintaining system. After that SANYO introduced a washing machine with a ‘zero detergent’ course as well as a home use air purifier, and commercial use air purifying system, etc. SANYO has continued to develop products that utilise electrolysed water as well and has test new positive effects. In May 2006, SANYO’s ‘Virus Washer’ system was proven effective in suppressing avian influenza viruses. This result was achieved by collaborative research with Tottori University, Japan (team led by Professor Kouichi Otsuki of the Faculty of agriculture). It was shown that SANYO’s proprietary electrolysed water technology, ‘Disinfectant Element’ and ‘Disinfectant Electrolysed Mist’ was highly effective in suppressing more then 99% of airborne avian influenza viruses.

Results of new tests with ‘Virus Washer’ system SANYO’s ‘Virus Washer’ system consists of either a ‘disinfectant element’ or ‘disinfectant electrolysed mist’. Experiments were conducted to study the efficacy of SANYO’s proprietary ‘disinfectant element’ and ‘disinfectant electrolysed mist’ (containing only 10-mg/l concentration of free residual chlorine). SANYO applied a diluted amount of electrolysed water formed from conventional tap water by the electrolysed process. The results confirmed that 99% of airborne avian influenza viruses were suppressed when passed only one time through the ‘disinfectant element’ or sprayed with the ‘disinfectant electrolysed mist’. The electrolysed water is simple to form from tap water and has a low concentration of free residual chlorine compared to chlorine based disinfectant (containing a 500-1,000mg/l concentration of free residual chlorine). Thus, SANYO’s proprietary technology the ‘disinfectant element’ and ‘disinfectant electrolysed mist’ suppresses avian influenza viruses and is safe and considerate of the environment as well as being practical for applied developments.

The ‘Disinfectant Element’ rapidly disinfects a large room due to the electrolysed water that saturates through SANYO’s proprietary honeycomb shaped gas liquid contact filter, which allows air to efficiently pass through. The ‘disinfectant electrolysed mist’ produces a highly efficient mist due to minute particles that are produced from the ultrasonic vibrator which is emitted in a highly diffusion processes. SANYO’s proprietary ‘disinfectant element’ was tested by first spraying avian influenza virus (H5 type) into a test chamber, and then, forcing the virus-infected air through a honeycomb-shaped disinfectant element. Measurements of the filtered air determined that at least 99% of airborne avian influenza viruses decreased. It was also shown that an electrolysed mist released into the air can render 99% or more of the virus inactive.

Using the fluorescence antibody test, a way of determining the virus infection of cells, the results showed that when not using SANYO’s electrolysed water technology the excitation light would show green, when using SANYO’s electrolysed water technology no light appeared. Thus confirming that SANYO’s proprietary ‘disinfectant element’ system and ‘disinfectant electrolysed mist’ system suppresses avian influenza viruses.

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SANYO Sales & Marketing Europe GmbH

Stahlgruberring 4
81829 München

Phone: +49 (0)89/45 116-0
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