UV Light Improves Food Safety with UV Irradiation

Ultraviolet (UV) light is useful in many applications providing benefits far beyond illumination. UV light in the UVC range is known to provide powerful germ-killing properties for disinfection and sterilization in many environments. UVC germicidal lamps are used in many germ-killing applications, such as UV air purification, surface sterilization, and water disinfection.

UV lamps are very useful in food and beverage processing applications to prevent a variety of foodborne illnesses, protect against infestation from harmful pathogens, and preserve food keeping it fresher longer.

UV Food Irradiation FDA Approved

UV food irradiation has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, FDA,  for decades and is proven to be an entirely safe method to treat food products. UV food irradiation helps food processing plants to ensure foods are free from harmful diseases such as listeria, which can be found in raw foods and processed meats, vegetables, and dairy products. 

These foods can become contaminated after food processing, and using UV disinfection methods on food processing conveyor belts helps to keep contact surfaces sterile without using harsh chemicals. UV food irradiation helps to prevent listeria during final food packaging for many ready-to-eat foods.

UV Irradiation Protects Many Food Types

UV irradiation protects many types of foods and beverages, providing many benefits to food and beverage processors such as:

• Prevents insect infestation in grains, nuts, vegetables, or dried fruit

• Prevents potatoes, garlic, and onions from premature sprouting

• Prolongs freshness and extends shelf life, especially for bread and dairy products

• Prevents mold and mildew from accumulating on liquid sugar tanks

• Preserves nutritional value in food items

• Slows down the process of aging and ripening

• Reduces microorganisms found in herbs and spices

• Prevents listeria on conveyor belts, a big risk for ready-to-eat and meat food processors

• Reduces risk of health hazards from foodborne illnesses, particularly in meat, seafood, and poultry

UV food irradiation provides these benefits and more to ensure healthier food products with safer food processing. UV food irradiation reduces the need for chemical cleaners and additives, which are always a concern in the food and beverage industry. UVC lamps provide powerful benefits to food processors that improve food safety and reduce the risk of contaminated food, improving the bottom line with less waste.

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UVC germicidal lamps found in many sterilization applications, including food irradiation. Our lighting engineers possess deep technical knowledge of UVC electromagnetic radiation and custom design lamps to meet specific wavelength requirements. Contact us with any questions and to improve any germicidal application, including food irradiation with quality UVC lamps.

Excimer Lamp Application And Uses

The term Excimer lamp refers to ultraviolet lamps that are specially designed to emit UV radiation in the wavelength range of 170 nm to approximately 230 nm. The wavelength emission depends on the noble gas excimers present in the lamp. Excimer lamps are popular for generating far UVC, typically in the specific range of 222 nm, an ideal range for UV disinfection, although they are capable of producing other ranges for use in applications. 

Excimer lamps designed to emit UV radiation in the range of 172 nm are commonly used for UV curing applications and when designed to emit 185 nm, are known to create ozone.

Excimer Lamps at 222 nm for Sterilization

Conventional UVC germicidal lamps typically emit radiation in the range of 254 nm, which is highly effective for germicidal applications, although is unsafe for use in the presence of humans. Far UVC at 222 nm is proven just as effective, if not more than 254 nm in some germicidal applications and offers the benefit of safe usage in occupied spaces. 222 nm Excimer lamps are proven just as effective at eliminating threats of stubborn viruses such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

UV Surface Activation at 172 nm with Excimer lamps 

UV Excimer lamps designed to emit 172 nm radiation are used primarily for UV curing and surface activation industrial applications. Ultraviolet radiation at 172 nm alters surface energy to allow for improved adhesion of coatings to substrates. UV lamps at 172 nm deliver electromagnetic energy to alter organic molecule bonds to improve adhesion and UV curing applications without altering physical surface properties. 

Excimer Lamps for Ozone Production at 185 nm

Ultraviolet lamps designed to emit UV radiation in the range of 185 nm are known to produce ozone and effective oxidizer and deodorizer. Ozone lamps are commonly used in water and air sterilization systems to purify the air and eliminate the threat of airborne diseases while also removing foul odors.

LightSources offers a wide range of ultraviolet lamp solutions for many industries and applications, including UV sterilization, UV curing, and ozone production. We offer custom design, engineering, and manufacturing, including prototype development focusing on OEM-oriented solutions. Contact us with any questions and to learn more about the many benefits of Excimer lamps.

UV Sterilization Lamps for Surface, Air and Water Sterilization

Ultraviolet, UV, sterilization lamps are lamps that are designed and engineered to emit ultraviolet radiation in the UVC range which is extremely effective at destroying many viruses and bacteria. UVC germicidal lamps are used in a wide range of industries and applications to sterilize surfaces, sanitize and purify the air we breathe, and eliminate waterborne viruses and bacteria.  LightSources is a leading global supplier of UVC germicidal lamps proven in nearly any type of surface, air, or water sterilization application.

UVC Lamps for Surface Sterilization

UVC germicidal lamps are used in many industries and applications to sterilize surfaces including:

• Hospitals

• Restaurants 

• Grocery stores

• Research labs

• Schools

• Public places

• Commercial and residential environments

UV Germicidal Lamps for Air Purification

UVC lamps are effective at eliminating airborne viruses when properly installed in HVAC units and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, UVGI, units. UV air sterilization systems can be installed in nearly any environment such as residential homes, commercial and public properties and industrial applications. UVC lamps in HVAC units help to sterilize and purify the air in two different ways, by treating air circulating through the system as well as preventing mold from accumulating on condenser units.

UVC Lamps for Water Sanitation

UVC lamps are used in a broad range of water sterilization applications such as in wastewater treatment plants and many other applications which require sterilized and purified water. UVC radiation can actually kill waterborne viruses that chlorine does not. And is used in many water applications such as:

• Wastewater treatment

• Pools and spas

• Life-sciences

• Ballast water treatment systems

• Aquaculture

UVC germicidal lamps for water purification are highly effective.  LightSources offers a wide range of UVC germicidal lamps proven in water sanitation applications and developed with proprietary technology such as our pellet amalgam germicidal lamp technology. We offer low pressure, medium pressure, high pressure, and amalgam technology as well as UVC ozone lamps proven in many water sterilization applications.

LightSources offers UVC germicidal lamps for any sterilization application. Our lighting engineers possess deep technical knowledge and assist customers with custom-designed germicidal solutions to meet their application needs. Contact us to learn more about our UVC germicidal lamps and how to incorporate them in your application for a cleaner and healthier, sterilized environment.

Does UV Light Kill Covid?

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is the virus that causes COVID-19 and a devastating global pandemic that began in early 2020. As of January 1, 2022, according to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center Global Map, there have been 5,442,655 deaths globally and over 825,982 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the U.S. alone. Public health systems and economies continue to struggle against the changing variants such as the latest omicron variant which is spreading rapidly.

For more than 100 years, ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been used to disinfect and sterilize many environments, and public health officials are realizing that UV light provides an added layer of protection against infection from many viruses and bacteria, including SARS-CoV-2.

Does UV Light Kill Covid?

According to an article published by the American Journal of infection control, regarding the Susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 to UV irradiation, published in August 2020, UV light effectively sterilizes a wide range of microorganisms and is an added tool for use in reaction to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While more research has yet to be completed regarding the exact dosage and exposure time of UVC radiation to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, UVC sterilization systems are proven to eliminate other coronaviruses in the same beta coronavirus family. UVC radiation effectively eliminates the viruses that cause MERS and SARS, other respiratory outbreaks caused by a coronavirus.

A recent article published in Medical Life-Sciences, explains how UVC sterilization systems can be an extra layer of defense against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. UVC sterilization systems can be utilized in many public places including hospitals, restaurants, hotels, airports, universities, public transportation systems and more. 

Exposure to UVC radiation can harm the skin and eyes.  These systems such as UVC robots should be used without direct exposure to human contact and under the advice of a professional with correct UVC disinfection systems properly installed for maximum efficacy and operation.

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UV lamps and lighting solutions including UVC germicidal lamps for air sterilization, surface and water disinfection applications. We offer OEM oriented solutions with custom lamp designs, prototype development, a strict quality policy and quick turnaround time. Contact us to learn more about our UVC germicidal lamp solutions proven in sterilization systems worldwide.