UV Radiation, and Technical Uses to Benefit Mankind

Light in the ultraviolet section of the electromagnetic spectrum serves an important role in everyday consumer needs. Every day the earth is bombarded with ultraviolet radiation produced by the sun. The radiation is filtered and in fact can aid in the growth of living organisms on the surface of the planet which depend on it. In high concentrations however, the radiation is highly damaging to the cells of living organisms. There are several different varieties of UV light, which play separate roles in the sterilization process.

UV A long wave radiation

This is the UV light which is produced by common everyday blacklights. It is longer wave type of UV light which means that it is far less harmful to living cells. This makes it a very poor choice for sterilization, but a great choice to show off your fluorescent wall paint.

UV B medium wave radiation

This is light in the medium wave spectrum of ultraviolet radiation. This is one of the several types of UV light produced by the sun that bombards the earth every day.

UV C short wave radiation

This portion of light from the ultraviolet spectrum is most well suited for germicidal and sterilization techniques. Because of the short wave nature of this type of UV light, particles and organisms are ionized , vibrated to a very high speed. This creates friction which leads to heat that ultimately destroys the harmful bacterias and organisms.

Milk sterilization techniques

Dairy milk is one of the most commonly consumed products in the world. Homogenization and Pasteurization are the key processes milk undergoes before it is supplied to be bottled and sold. Homogenization is important because it prevents the separation of the cream from the milk, especially in milks which are not reduced fat content. Pasteurization is important because it involves heating the milk gently to, and slightly over, the threshold temperature of which harmful organisms living inside the milk can live. So, these bacterias subsequently die off. However, for those few organisms which survive this heating process, ultraviolet light exposure is critical. The light in the ultraviolet spectrum is shown into the open tanks containing the milk, and left exposed for a certain amount of time. This is part of almost every dairy milk processing procedure everywhere.

Drinking water sterilization

Drinking water can be easily sterilized of living organisms, due to its extreme transparency. The ultraviolet light has little difficulty passing through the liquid, however once it encounters a change in opacity (see through-ness), due to an organism, the organism is then ionized thus heating it up and ultimately destroying it. If electricity is available, a UV sterilization unit can avoid the perils of adding chemicals to drinking water (iodine) because application of the light leaves nothing in the liquid whatsoever.

Aquarium sterilization

In aquarium and artificial pond maintenance, ultraviolet light offers many benefits to the fish which many collectors and hobbyist spend countless dollars maintaining the health and wellness of. UV radiation is one of the most effective methods of controlling disease and infection in an aquatic environment. According to aquariumuvsterilizer.blogspot.com, UVC radiation aids in the breakdown of oxidizers in the water which can inhibit the natural ability of fish to fight off infections and health disorders.

Sometimes the best way to treat a disease in fish is to prevent the fish from acquiring the illness in the first place. Ultraviolet radiation sterilizer units provide this ability.UV light sterilization of liquids etc