Welcome to Inmicro's website for SCENTINEL:
Inmicro's Scentinel Air Sanitizer is a diffuser technology that converts liquid essential oil into vapour that sanitizes the air. Our innovative technology emits a natural vapour of thyme oil that reduces SARS CoV-2 in the built environment by 99.99%, a 4 log reduction.
natural protection
Harnessing the antimicrobial power of thyme oil, our air sanitizer offers a safe and natural way to purify the air in your surroundings
REDUCES SARS covid in the built environment
Reduce SARS-CoV-2 by 99.99%, Scentinel Air Sanitizer delivers powerful protection that you can trust.
continuous air sanitization
Our technology continuously emits thyme oil vapor, providing round-the-clock protection for your office, or any indoor space
safe and effective
Free from harsh chemicals and toxins, our solution is safe for use around people, pets, and plants.
In the 1970's, an oil embargo led building designers to make buildings more airtight, with less outdoor air ventilation to improve energy efficiency.
The ventilation was reduced to 5cfm/person.
This reduced ventilation rate was inadequate to maintain the health and comfort of building occupants.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recently revised ventilation standards to 20 cfm/person in office spaces.
Increasing ventilation is not enough to protect people from COVID-19. EPA.
The biological contaminants include pollen, bacteria, viruses, fungus, molds, etc.
These contaminants breed in stagnant water that accumulate on AC coils, drainpipes and ducts.
The presence of biofilms on the cooling coils of commercial air conditioning (AC) units can significantly reduce the heat transfer efficiency of the coils and may lead to the aerosolization of microbes into occupied spaces of the building.
Introducing: Scentinel Air Sanitizer, the diffuser technology that converts liquid essential oil into vapour that sanitizes the air. Scentinel diffuser connects to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning) ducting in commercial buildings. It distributes Thyme Oil vapour from one unit to multiple floors in buildings.
One diffuser can produce vapour for up to 500,000 square feet of building space. Tested in a 30 cubic meter room, vapour phase of 40ml of extracted Thyme oil eliminated more than 99.99%, a 4 log reduction of airborne SARS-CoV-2.
about InMicro's Diffuser, Scentinel
InMicro's diffuser Scentinel emits Thyme oil vapor that reduces Sars Cov-2 in the built environment by 99.99%, a 4 log reduction.
picture of the founder in April 2008 taking swabs test in a 35 storey high-rise
In April 2008, we were commissioned by GWL Realty to study the levels of microbial contaminants in the Park Place Building, a AAA rated building. We came up with a simple solution using swabs taken from the HVAC filters located on all 35 floors of the building and had them processed (cultured) at a local microbial lab.
Airborne cross-transmission driven by the stack effect, elevator movement and HVAC has been identified in high-rise office, residential buildings, hospitals and schools. These transmission roots are now being studied by scientists. Given the risks of infection by H1N1 seasonal flu, SARS CoV-2, antimicrobial resistant bacteria, and many other pathogens, vapour technology meets infection controls current limitations. Essential oils are safe. Their molecules move 500 feet a second into room spaces to make them safe, reducing the viability of infectious aerosols.
High-rise
buildings: A risk factor in the COVID-19 Omicron epidemic period.
Predictions and measurements of the stack effect on indoor airborne virus transmission in a high-rise hospital building.
Numerical Modeling of Cross-Transmission of Airborne Pollutants in a High-Rise Building Induced by Elevator Car Movement
The ATP meter on the left picture shows before treatment. The ATP meter on the right picture shows after the exposure with Cedar Leaf Oil vapour. In this one hour exposure, we achieved a 3 log reduction.
Sanitation is crucial for public health, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With various methods available for disinfecting both drinking water and indoor air, two prominent approaches stand out: chlorination of drinking water and the use of thyme oil vapour for air sanitation. Recent studies indicate that thyme oil vapour can be 99.99% effective against SARS-CoV-2, making it a compelling option for those seeking natural alternatives. This blog will compare these two methods, highlighting their effectiveness, applications, and safety.
Effectiveness:
Chlorination is a
tried-and-true method for ensuring safe drinking water, effectively
neutralizing a wide array of pathogens. Thyme oil vapour, with its 99.99%
efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, presents an exciting option for air sanitation,
particularly considering ongoing concerns about airborne transmission of respiratory
viruses.
Application Context:
Chlorination is
essential for treating drinking water, especially in municipal systems where
large populations rely on safe water supplies. In contrast, thyme oil vapour is
well-suited for indoor air purification in homes, offices, and public spaces.
Safety and Environment Impact:
Chlorination raises
concerns about chemical byproducts and unpleasant taste, whereas thyme oil is
generally safer and more environmentally friendly.
Public Perception:
Chlorinated water often receives negative feedback due to taste and odour issues. This leads some people to seek alternatives. Thyme oil is perceived as a natural remedy and is generally viewed positively, making it an attractive option for air sanitation.
Kelly, the founder of InMicro diffuser Scentinel has worked in the indoor air quality industry since 1982. He started in the Energy conservation industry pioneering air sealing technology and training people to perform air sealing. The tool we used a Retrotec Door Fan is still state of the art today. Understanding stack effect and how air and pathogens move in buildings was a key factor in the development of our vapour technology and US patented diffuser, Scentinel.
In the 90's, Kelly renovated 40 mold infected houses for the Squamish First Nations, using an innovative approach that utilized air sealing techniques and Cedar Leaf Oil Vapour produced from the Western Red Cedar tree that grows in the rainforest of coastal British Columbia. The work on the mold homes demonstrated that the Cedar Leaf Oil vapour not only controlled the mold growth but also greatly improved the health of people living in the mold homes. Mothers told Squamish Nation housing of their children being able to stop using asthma puffers when the vapour was diffused in their homes.
In 2006, he was invited to install one of his patented oil vapour diffusers in a 35 Storey 600,000 square foot high-rise building. Samples that were swabbed from the air filters on all 35 floors were sent to a commercial lab. They showed high levels of bacteria and mold. Scentinel was installed for 5 days, and the filters retested. The mold and bacteria dropped by 99.9%, a 3 log reduction.
B. Kelly Crosby