If you look at the air purifier market, you will notice that quite a few different technologies are being promoted: HEPA, activated carbon, ionization, UV-C, and more. Not every type works in the same way, and not every type is equally suitable for home use. Below, we list the most important types.
1. HEPA air purifiers
This is the most common and best-researched type. A HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter mechanically captures particles between densely woven fibers. A genuine HEPA13 filter captures at least 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns, including fine dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses, and microplastics. Because it involves physical filtration, particles are actually removed from the air, rather than settling somewhere else.
2. Air purifiers with activated carbon filters
These focus on gases and odors rather than solid particles. Activated carbon captures volatile substances such as cooking odors, smoke, and paint fumes through adsorption. Activated carbon alone does not capture fine dust, so this type is usually combined with a HEPA filter instead of being used separately. You can read more about this in our article on what an activated carbon filter exactly does.
3. Ionizers
An ionizer sends negatively charged ions into the air, which attach to dust particles and make them heavier, causing them to settle on surfaces more quickly. The disadvantage: the particles do not really disappear; they just relocate. Moreover, this process can generate ozone as a byproduct in some devices. We delve deeper into this in our article on ionization and safety.
4. Electrostatic air purifiers
These work with a high-voltage field that electrically charges particles and then attracts them to charged plates inside the device. The advantage is that the plates are washable and you do not have to buy replacement filters. The disadvantage is that the efficiency is often lower than that of a good HEPA filter, especially as the plates become dirty, and some models can produce ozone.
5. UV-C air purifiers
UV-C light can inactivate certain microorganisms, provided the exposure time and intensity are sufficient. In practice, the exposure time within an air purifier is often short, making the effect variable. Therefore, UV-C is usually used as an extra addition alongside filtration, not as a replacement.
6. PECO and photocatalytic air purifiers
This is a newer technology that uses light and a catalyst to try to break down pollutants at a molecular level. The technology is still in full development and practical results vary greatly per brand and model, so it is wise to view this critically and not rely blindly on marketing claims.
7. Ozone generators
These are not regular air purifiers, but devices that deliberately produce ozone, often used for odor control in empty rooms, such as after a renovation. These devices are not suitable for daily use in an occupied living room or bedroom.
Combination devices: the best of both worlds
Most high-quality air purifiers today combine multiple filter stages in one device: a pre-filter for coarse dust, a HEPA filter for fine dust and microorganisms, and an activated carbon layer for odors and gases. This allows you to tackle both particles and gases without the risks that may be associated with ionization or ozone production.
Our advice
In our experience, an air purifier with multi-stage filtration based on HEPA and activated carbon, without an ionizer, is the most reliable choice for most households. The Dynter AirPure Plus PA244, for example, works with a 4-stage filter system including a HEPA13 filter, suitable for up to 55 m2, with a CADR of 260 m3/h.