LED Lighting, BECK Elektronik

How UVC LEDs can help us fighting the corona virus

As early as 1903, the physician Niels Ryberg Finsen received the highly coveted Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for his research into light therapy against skin tuberculosis. He used a carbon arc lamp to generate UV radiation, which formed the basis of his light therapy. A century later, it is generally known that UVC radiation (electromagnetic radiation between 200nm and 300nm) can be used very efficiently to destroy DNA of unicellular organisms. The molecular compounds of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are irretrievably separated by energy bombardment with photons. As a result, unicellular organisms can no longer reproduce and die. This method can be used in the fight against bacteria, fungi and also viruses, such as the novel coronavirus SARS CoV 2, influenza viruses or E. coli bacteria. Even multi-resistant germs can be killed without these germs developing resistance to UVC radiation.

Depending on radiation intensity and duration of irradiation, 99.99% of all germs in air or water can be killed. Other factors for efficiency are temperature, ambient humidity and the used wavelength. The novel coronavirus is similar to the SARS and MERS virus. Studies by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Betheda, Maryland, USA have shown that SARS-CoV can be killed by heating and also by UVC irradiation.

Until now, this UVC radiation has been produced by low-pressure UVC lamps containing mercury. These have their main emission at 254nm and 185nm. An emission of 185nm radiation can be suppressed by special quartz glass to the outside. The toxic gas ozone is generated in the air by this wavelength. With UVC LEDs this emission peak is naturally absent. UVC LEDs also offer other advantages such as their simple power supply with low DC voltage. Due to their compact design completely new designs are possible. Even battery operation is conceivable. UVC LEDs do not have any warm-up times, which makes pulse operation possible. They are also much more environmentally friendly, as they do not contain highly toxic mercury.

Until now, UVC LEDs could only generate a few mW of UVC radiation. Since the beginning of this year Beck Elektronik offers innovative UVC LEDs from the Partners Luminus and Lextar, which can reach up to 200mW when properly energized. An emission of 100mW has been considered a milestone which has been tried to achieve for a long time.

The UVC technology is already used for disinfection in hospitals and for special projects such as the disinfection of handrails of escalators in underground stations. Even water is already disinfected with it.

First samples are available on request. Please contact your sales partner or use the contact form.

UVC LEDs can help us fight the corona virus