Growing demand for Disinfection products ranging from UV technology to chemical-based liquids and gels have boosted the overall antiseptic and surface disinfection industry.
With the rapid increase in contamination of human intakes in the form of food or water, we have made ourselves highly dependent on adopting Chemical Disinfectants.
In a food business (which dominates 70% of the market), happens to be one of the major consumers of chemical disinfectants. Whether they are caterers, retailers, manufacturing sites, or logistics, Food Safety is the prime concern. Since not carrying out disinfection correctly can result in illness or even death of people eating contaminated food and also the prosecution of food business operators. This brings a new and better competent in the market to save the food from such chemical contaminant named as UV Disinfectants.
Unlike chemical disinfectants market products, UV light provides instant inactivation of microorganisms through a physical process. Bacteria, Viruses, and protozoa become inactive while coming in direct contact with UV light. Because of its characteristics of imbibing a specific range of wavelengths between 200-300 nanometres (billionth of a meter), it is categorized as germicidal – which means capable of inactivating microorganisms in an environment-friendly manner.
Scientific research has proven that UV disinfectant is claimed to be a more effective way of disinfecting as compared to chemical disinfectants as it eliminates the need to generate, handle, transport, store toxic/hazardous corrosive chemicals. It has been primarily used in the medical sanitization, to sterilize drinking and wastewater, and also in air purifiers. Not only proclaiming its application in air disinfection and water treatment, it is also booming in Surface Equipment and Food & Beverages Disinfection.
The global demand for UV disinfectant equipment is expected to rise from USD 2.9bn in 2020 to USD 5.3bn in 2025, showing a CAGR of 12.3 percent in 6 years. Municipal end-user accounted as its largest user in 2019 because of its primary contribution in the treatment of water supply to residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. The second-largest usage of UV disinfectants is the UV lamps market who is expected to take over Municipal end-user growth in the forecast period of 2020 – 2025.
Xylem Inc. (US), Trojan Technologies (Canada), Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Japan), Halma plc (UK), Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation (US), and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC (US), are major industry players in UV disinfectants. Both organic and inorganic growth strategies such as alliances, contracts, acquisitions, product releases, and expansions have been embraced by these companies to improve their role in the market for UV disinfection products.
UV disinfectant does not always seem a better choice, though, with the high cushion of comfort from the chemical intake. Some viruses cannot be effectively inactivated by low dosages. UV disinfection is not as costly as chlorination, but chlorination costs are fairly reasonable when fire codes are met. There is also no observable residual for showing the effectiveness of UV disinfection.
These three essential areas are now to be considered when choosing a UV disinfection device. The first is decided mainly by the manufacturer; the second is by design and Operation & Maintenance, and the third is to be managed at the treatment plant. Holding these in mind, a better economically feasible choice is considered to be cost-effectiveness together with the paramount outcome.
