High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters collect particulate matter. Think of a HEPA filter as a mesh of tangled fibers. Because air flows through the fibers and traps large particles, the filter's efficacy is fully dependent on the size of the particles. Therefore, airborne chemicals (called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs) and biological contaminants like viruses are far too small for a HEPA filter to trap.

Independent tests at the University of Minnesota Particle Calibration Laboratory show that Molekule’s Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO) technology destroys VOCs quickly, unlike HEPA, which cannot capture these small particles. PECO is the only technology that destroys a broad spectrum of pollutants, regardless of size.

Also, bacteria and mold can collect on the filter surface and continue to multiply. Bacteria trapped on the surface can release harmful endotoxins into the air. Mold is an even bigger concern, because as it grows on the filter surface, it can release new spores into the air.

Unlike HEPA technology, Molekule's Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO) technology destroys pollutants that pass through the filter. The PECO filter, triggered by light, produces free radicals that break down the molecular structure of any organic compound in a single pass.

Learn more about how Molekule air purifiers compare to carbon filters.