Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: scientizscht on 02/01/2019 12:59:05

Title: How can viruses be killed in the atmosphere?
Post by: scientizscht on 02/01/2019 12:59:05

What are the available methods to kill viruses in the atmosphere?

Waves, beams, other means?

Thanks!

Title: Re: How can viruses be killed in the atmosphere?
Post by: Bored chemist on 02/01/2019 13:35:31

The  atmosphere is a pretty hostile place for viruses.
UV light from the Sun and free radicals produced by that UV will deactivate a lot of viruses.

Title: Re: How can viruses be killed in the atmosphere?
Post by: evan_au on 03/01/2019 08:40:18

Heat will sterilise most viruses - provided there is a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficiently long time.

Title: Re: How can viruses be killed in the atmosphere?
Post by: chris on 03/01/2019 09:28:47

In hospitals and other venues that require microbial decontamination (that includes viral and non-viral agents) hydrogen peroxide "fogging" is used. The area being cleaned is "sealed off" (aka closing the doors) and a machine that dispenses a peroxide mist into the airspace is run in the room for a period of time. The rationale is that the peroxide particles go where the air currents - and hence microbial agents - will go, and can access all areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidising agent that rapidly denatures viruses, bacteria and fungi, including spores and other inert / quiescent entities.

Title: Re: How can viruses be killed in the atmosphere?
Post by: syhprum on 03/01/2019 11:48:55

Is not Hydrogen peroxide the dreaded Ozone in solution that other posts have warned us about, apparently it has its uses.
 

Title: Re: How can viruses be killed in the atmosphere?
Post by: chris on 03/01/2019 17:52:35

Quote from: syhprum on 03/01/2019 11:48:55

Is not Hydrogen peroxide the dreaded Ozone in solution that other posts have warned us about, apparently it has its uses.

No - hydrogen peroxide is a molecule contain hydrogen and oxygen - formula H₂O₂

Ozone is a molecule containing exclusively oxygen and has the formula O₃

Both are oxidising, and both can poison you and sterilise an environment, but for different reasons. Ozone at ground level is a nuisance; at 10-50 miles up in the atmosphere it's a lifesaver.

Title: Re: How can viruses be killed in the atmosphere?
Post by: Bored chemist on 05/01/2019 02:09:00

Quote from: syhprum on 03/01/2019 11:48:55

Is not Hydrogen peroxide the dreaded Ozone in solution

No
Feel free to learn some chemistry.

Title: Re: How can viruses be killed in the atmosphere?
Post by: set fair on 06/02/2019 01:27:41

Propylene glycol - delivered by the air conditioning, also good against bacteria. There s a conspiracy theory that the pharmacuetical companies were behind stopping its use in hospitals.

Title: Re: How can viruses be killed in the atmosphere?
Post by: Bored chemist on 06/02/2019 19:21:28

Quote from: set fair on 06/02/2019 01:27:41

Propylene glycol - delivered by the air conditioning, also good against bacteria. There s a conspiracy theory that the pharmacuetical companies were behind stopping its use in hospitals.

In the wrong conditions, the bacteria will eat the glycol
https://air.unimi.it/retrieve/handle/2434/221803/280390/Aerobic%20biodegradation%20of%20propylene%20glycol%20by%20soil%20bacteria.pdf#
No need for conspiracies

Title: Re: How can viruses be killed in the atmosphere?
Post by: Rahi Kapoor on 04/03/2019 06:26:08

Viruses can't survive very long on their own, and in order for viruses to reproduce, they need living hosts nearby for them to infect. In your scenario, the pure oxygen environment would quickly kill the bacteria, and so the virus would "die" too, eventually.