Bipolar ionization technology can destroy nCoV

The ions create a chemical reaction in the cell membrane that inactivates the virus, reducing it by 99.9% within minutes, according to Philip Tierno, a professor at New York University School of Medicine.

Bipolar ionization technology is often integrated into HVAC systems. (Photo: Business Insider).

Built into heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, the technology uses specialized tubes to draw oxygen molecules from the air and convert them into charged atoms that cluster around microscopic particles, surrounding and neutralizing harmful substances such as mold, bacteria, viruses and allergens. Ions also attach to respiratory droplets and dust particles that can spread viruses, amplifying them so they are easier for the filter to capture. It's a continuous disinfection process.

Some experts worry that virus-laden droplets could travel farther than the recommended 2 meters and linger in the air longer. Long used extensively in Europe, bipolar ionization first made its way to the United States in the 1970s as a tool for controlling pathogens in food production. It has also been effective against SARS, MERS, and many strains of seasonal flu. Recent advances have made the equipment cheaper and easier to install. Because coronaviruses have envelopes, they are easier to kill than non-enveloped viruses like noroviruses, Tierno said.

Hospitals including Johns Hopkins, Boston Children's Hospital, and the University of Maryland Medical Center have adopted bipolar ionization technology. Tony Abate, chief technology officer of AtmosAir Solutions, predicts that bipolar ionization systems will become standard equipment in hospital environments, helping to protect patients and healthcare workers. Airport terminals at LaGuardia, O'Hare, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Google's Chicago and San Jose headquarters have also installed bipolar ionization systems to help prevent pathogens.