Aerosol sprays that kill odor-causing bacteria in the air - including mold and fungal spores - clearly are a hit with consumers. But these products treat enclosed rooms one at a time, and their effects are temporary. A new chemical formulation and delivery system created by Prolitec, Inc., can be programmed to sanitize the air continuously or during specific times of day throughout HVAC ducts and occupied enclosed spaces—with applications ranging from homes to medical facilities; doctor, dentist and veterinary offices; schools and classrooms; long-term care facilities, health clubs, bars, hotels, cruise ships, schools, theaters and gaming facilities. The new air-sanitizing agent, called ARIA, won EPA registration in November. It works in tandem with Prolitec's existing family of Air/Q ambient-scenting and odor-control systems, which already are widely used in the hospitality, gaming and retail sectors. Moreover, ARIA will also be available for the home via a soon-to-be-announced, next-generation version of Air/Q that Prolitec custom-designed for residential use. Because of its ability to continually sanitize the air within enclosed spaces, ARIA is of keen interest to HVAC professionals for continuously cleaning the air in ducts and proprietors of any type of indoor facility where airborne odor causing bacteria and mold may thrive. "ARIA and an Air/Q appliance provide a simple-to-use, cost-effective system to continuously sanitize the air we breathe," said Richard Weening, chairman and CEO of the Milwaukee-based Prolitec. "This is a real first, and we believe it is reasonable to call it a breakthrough. What is more, the EPA registration verifies our claims about what ARIA can do. "ARIA is effective in a wide range of spaces from very small to very large," he continued. The product uses Prolitec's HVAC-mounted system for homes and larger commercial spaces, while the company's table-top, wall or ceiling mounted units can serve individual rooms up to 20,000 cubic feet. Available in odorless or scented versions, ARIA is invisible, leaving no surface deposits. Prolitec's computer-controlled system Air/Q system works by converting the ARIA formulation into non-toxic, micro-droplets less than 1/100th the diameter of a human hair to instantly create a sanitizing vapor throughout the enclosed space. ARIA is packaged in tamper-proof, recyclable cartridges that are easily inserted into the installed Air/Q appliance, and changed periodically by the user in the home or office, or by Prolitec service technicians in large commercial facilities. Today's consumers show a clear preference toward pleasant ambient-scent experiences, and they also are more concerned than ever about potentially harmful airborne odor-causing bacteria and mold in their home. Indeed, this concern has helped fuel growth of an entire industry focused on cleaning HVAC ducts. Some of these companies even try to sweep away vegetative mold spores. "The challenge is that, mold spores are typically 1/50th the diameter of a hair, which is less than a micron in diameter," Weening said. "Trying to physically sweep or vacuum them up is really not possible. The ARIA approach, by contrast, kills airborne mold and fungal spores circulating within HVAC systems, and helps prevent them from spreading within the home or building." Prolitec, which has filed preliminary patent applications for ARIA's key processes, unveiled the new formulation and delivery system on January 26 at the AHR Expo show in Chicago.