PHOENIX — Hydroxyl generators, which produce hydroxyl radicals through ultraviolet light and photocatalytic oxidation to neutralize odors and volatile organic compounds, are gaining market share among restoration contractors who need to treat odors in occupied or partially occupied structures where ozone cannot safely be used.
Unlike ozone, which requires complete evacuation of a structure before treatment, hydroxyl radicals are safe for humans, animals, and plants at the concentrations produced by commercial hydroxyl generators. The technology allows restoration contractors to treat odors in hotels, hospitals, occupied office buildings, and other settings where evacuation is impractical.
The trade-off is effectiveness — hydroxyl treatment typically requires 24 to 72 hours to achieve the same level of odor neutralization that ozone can achieve in two to four hours. However, for jobs where continuous occupancy is required, hydroxyl generators are often the only viable option.
New hydroxyl generator models released in 2026 incorporate improved UV lamp technology and photocatalytic oxidation chambers that increase hydroxyl radical production by approximately 40 percent compared to previous-generation units, reducing treatment times and improving effectiveness on heavy odor jobs.
The IICRC has incorporated hydroxyl generator use into its odor control guidelines, noting that the technology is appropriate for occupied spaces and as a complement to ozone treatment on jobs where both technologies are used in sequence.
