UV-C light is widely utilized in hospitals to sterilize patient room surfaces as well as in municipal water supplies for decades. It is the invisible to the human eye, a worker-bee of the disinfecting world, and a key component in the LARQ Bottle, the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle.

So, what is UV-C?

UV-C is categorized under a range within the electromagnetic spectrum. You might be familiar with the Sun’s UVA and UVB rays, which have different properties due to each specified range.  UV-C falls within wavelengths of 200-280nm, which is a scientifically proven germicidal range. Hence, the use in hospitals and sanitization facilities.

How does UV-C work?

UV-C rays in the 200 -280nm range have been considered germicidal, which means it has the capability of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria by disrupting the chemical bonds in their DNA and rendering them unable to perform vital cell functions. In essence, UV-C light is killing the germ cells!

Previously, many assumed that 254nm was the optimal level for disinfection, however, this was based on a reliance on Mercury (toxic) vapors which peak at 254nm. To create a safer, non-toxic method of emitting UV-C, we digitized it using LED technology.  LED lasts 40x longer than traditional Mercury lamp counterparts, so it ensures the longevity of the product.  Through the use of UV-C LED, we are now able to harness the disinfecting power of UV-C light at 280nm which has been proven effective against E.coli, Salmonella, Staph, and MSRA, which are naked to the eyes but produce dire consequences to the human body.

While UV-C LED has a number of promising applications, water and surface disinfection are two practical uses where we are already seeing at work. For example, the LARQ Bottle uses a UV-C LED chip in the cap of the bottle to neutralize up to 99%* of bacteria such as E.coli in the water and the internal surface area of the bottle itself. Learn more.

When it comes to uses for UV-C LED, the opportunities are expansive and we are just getting started.

*Based on the elimination of 99.8% of E.coli in a 20-second cycle for all LARQ Bottles.