company news about Stepping into the Mercury-Free Era: How UVC LED is Driving the Water Disinfection Revolution

The global drive toward environmental preservation and human health is placing significant pressure on traditional water disinfection methods. Specifically, low-pressure ultraviolet (UV) mercury lamps, which contain the hazardous substance mercury, pose environmental risks related to toxicity and disposal. Against this backdrop, UVC LED (Deep Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diode) technology is emerging as the pivotal force to replace conventional mercury lamps. With its mercury-free, highly efficient, and compact nature, UVC LED is leading the water treatment industry into a safe, sustainable, and truly "Mercury-Free Era."

UVC LEDs utilize the specific wavelengths of ultraviolet light they emit (typically between 260nm and 280nm, with peak sterilization efficiency at around 265nm) to directly destroy the DNA and RNA structures of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, protozoa), causing them to lose their ability to replicate and reproduce, thereby achieving a highly efficient inactivation effect.

Mercury lamps require preheating time to reach optimal sterilization intensity, and their lifespan is affected by the frequency of switching on and off. UVC LEDs, on the other hand, can start instantly and reach full power output immediately. This makes them ideal for on-demand, flow-through sterilization scenarios (such as water dispensers and water purifiers), significantly improving energy efficiency and ease of use.

The extremely small size of UVC LED chips allows for highly compact design of sterilization modules. This feature is disruptive in the following areas: Easy integration into the tanks or piping of household water purifiers, water dispensers, and coffee machines for real-time point-of-use sterilization; and widespread application in personal consumer products such as water cup and baby bottle sterilizers, enhancing the user experience.

Despite the promising future of UVC LEDs, their industrialization and widespread application still face several technological challenges:

• Photovoltaic Conversion Efficiency (WPE): Improving the efficiency of UVC LEDs in converting electrical energy into ultraviolet light is key to reducing cost and power consumption.
• Lifespan and Reliability: In humid aquatic environments, ensuring the long-term stability and resistance to degradation of UVC LED chips and packaging materials is a focus of continuous optimization for manufacturers.

Looking ahead, with the continuous advancement of UV LED technology, especially breakthroughs in chip materials and packaging technology, its cost-effectiveness will continue to improve, and power density and lifespan will be further enhanced. UVC LEDs will not only completely replace mercury-containing lamps as the mainstream light source for water treatment, but will also drive the intelligent integration of water quality monitoring and disinfection, providing safer, more environmentally friendly, and more efficient drinking water solutions globally.