ductFIT® photocatalytic technology plays a key role in the inactivation of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens in indoor environments. This innovative solution uses a photocatalytic process to purify the air and effectively eliminate biological contaminants. By improving indoor air quality, ductFIT® helps create healthier and safer environments, protecting the wellbeing of occupants. Its proven ability to neutralise viruses makes it a valuable solution for disease prevention in enclosed spaces.
Indoor air quality has become one of the most important health and safety challenges of modern buildings. From hospitals and public transportation to offices, hotels and residential spaces, airborne pathogens continue to represent a major risk for human health.
CleanAir Spaces ductFIT® devices has been developed to address this challenge through advanced photocatalytic oxidation technology capable of continuously reducing biological contamination in treated spaces.
Advanced Photocatalytic Oxidation Inspired by Nature
The core principle behind ductFIT® is based on photocatalysis: a natural physicochemical process activated by light and specially engineered catalytic materials.
When ambient humidity (H₂O molecules naturally present in the air) comes into contact with the activated photocatalytic surface, a controlled oxidation reaction occurs. This reaction generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), including highly reactive hydroxyl radicals and low, safe environmental concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂).
The process can be simplified as follows:
H₂O + energy + photocatalyst → Reactive Oxygen Species + H₂O₂
These oxidizing molecules are continuously distributed through the treated airflow, creating an active purification effect throughout the indoor environment.
How Oxidation Inactivates Pathogens
Viruses, bacteria, molds and fungi depend on the integrity of their external structures and genetic material to survive, infect and replicate.
The reactive oxidative species generated by ductFIT® attack pathogens through multiple mechanisms simultaneously:
- Oxidation of lipid membranes and viral envelopes
- Damage to surface proteins used for cell attachment
- Disruption of bacterial cell walls
- Oxidative fragmentation of RNA and DNA genetic material
- Interference with metabolic and replication processes
Once these structures are damaged, microorganisms lose their ability to infect, reproduce or spread.
This multi-target oxidative mechanism is especially important because it does not rely on a single biochemical pathway, making resistance adaptation extremely difficult.
Effective Against Enveloped and Non-Enveloped Viruses
Not all viruses have the same resistance profile.
Enveloped viruses — such as coronaviruses or filoviruses like Ebola — possess fragile lipid membranes that are highly vulnerable to oxidation.
Non-enveloped viruses, such as norovirus and enteroviruses, are considered among the most resistant pathogens in environmental microbiology due to their highly stable protein capsids and environmental persistence.
ductFIT® technology has demonstrated very high inactivation rates against a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including highly resistant pathogens. Independent scientific validations have confirmed strong efficacy against bacteria, molds, fungi, yeasts and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Because the oxidative mechanism acts at the structural and molecular level, photocatalytic oxidation is scientifically considered effective against both:
- enveloped viruses, such as filoviruses (including Ebola-type viruses) and hantaviruses,
- and highly resistant non-enveloped viruses such as norovirus and enteroviruses.
Continuous Protection for Occupied Spaces
Unlike conventional surface disinfection systems that work only at a specific moment in time, ductFIT operates continuously while air circulates through the HVAC system.
This creates an active and ongoing reduction of airborne and surface microbial contamination in occupied environments.
The result is a cleaner and safer indoor atmosphere that helps:
- reduce biological load,
- minimize cross-contamination risks,
- improve indoor environmental quality,
- and help protect people in shared indoor spaces.
A New Generation of Indoor Air Protection
As the world faces increasing concerns related to pandemics, antimicrobial resistance and indoor environmental health, advanced oxidation technologies are becoming an essential part of future-ready buildings.
ductFIT® combines scientific innovation, continuous operation and proven oxidative disinfection principles to help create healthier indoor environments for people everywhere.
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