History of air ionization researches (part 1)

History of air ionization researches (part 1)

In 1748 began the researches of "atmosphere electricity". The abbot Nolet described his experiments where he electrified plants that put under the charged electrodes. He realized that the germination and development of plants was much better. But later there was no interest in the air ionization and about one century no one remembered about it.

In 1879 Grandiew studied that plants, which were not exposed to atmosphere electricity because they were put in the wired earthed box, lost 30-50% weight in comparison with controlled plants. The content of sugar and starch was specific.

In 1903 on a meeting of Russian Balneal Society Sokolov said that the natural ionization is a biological factor. The outstanding work of Gess about the air ionization included all the scientific information that was studied till that time concerning this question. Dorner from Lavos made an important contribution to study of medical climatology, and moreover he promoted the development of ionization theory, though not directly.

Kaspary and Ashkinazy, Ebert, Gokkel, Shermak, Kehler, Trabert, Hilpak and Grebly - these are names of some scientists who were interested in questions of ionization, and there was a great amount of such scientists.

As opposed to existing methods of gas ionization direct definition Lessor with his assistants used the powder of magnesium oxide as the charge carrier. Vsadkevich and Yanitsky who cooperated with Lessor, developed this generator and enriched the known information on complexity of air ionization and its content. According to their researches quickly moving small ions were not of much importance, slowly moving big ones while inhalation aspired to reach the lungs and to adsorb there. Yanitsky believed that the most effective ions were the ions of average size.

Heppel calculated the speed of ions of different size and came to the following conclusions: 

  1. Light or so-called normal air ions which were gas ions of a molecular size, in the electric field had the speed about 1-2 cm2/sec. 
  2. The speed of air ions of average size, which were described by Lessor, was 0,02-0,01 cm2/sec. 
  3. Heavy or so-called Lendjvin air ions were very big and slowly moving particles or water drops which were bearing the electric charge and their speed was 0,0005 cm2/sec. 

According to Skilling and Bekket information the average speed of positively charged so-called "light" air ions was about 1,6 cm2/sec. Summing up all data Dessor came to conclusion that the quickly moving light air ions didn't penetrate the upper airways, while the large ions that were moving much slower than the small ones could be easily counted in the expired air. The most part of researchers counted only the lightest and the heaviest ions; meantime their devices couldn't record the speed of the ions, which had the average (or intermediate) speed. This fact could partially explain why some authors denied the existence of air ions of average size. It turned out that the positively charged air ions moved 30% slower than the negatively charged air ions. 

Continuation of  the article >>

The author of the article - Aydar Tuktagulov (Sapphire Company www.ionization.ru)
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