The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) has have developed a low-cost UVC LED-based disinfection system amid the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
The researchers are also addressing the critical need of the material required for the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
IIT Guwahati director T G Sitharam said a research team led by Senthilmurugan Subbiah, department of chemical engineering has been formed.
The team will work in collaboration with Excel Tech based in Bengaluru and Ultimate Aeroaqua Filter Private Limited based in Guwahati to develop the two technologies.
“IIT-G community is focused to work closely with government agencies and industrial partners to develop smart and low-cost technologies to fight against COVID-19 under the leadership of Professor T. G. Sitharam, Director, IIT Guwahati,” said Senthilmurugan Subbiah.
According to the Institute, UVC system is a proven technology to sanitise the microorganism infected non-porous surface.
In this project, the team has developed an UVC-LED system capable of providing a certain dose in 30 seconds, such that the virus-infected surface will be sanitized.
The unique design of this UVC system will ensure uniform UVC exposure in virus-infected non-porous area.
Further to adopt this technology to the porous surfaces, the team is improving the design by integrating UVC with Ozone system such that surface with porous nature also can be sanitized.
The system is equipped with an object movement identification feature so that the UVC exposure to human skin is avoided during the operation.
The primary role of IIT Guwahati is to develop the UVC system design, prototype (using 3D technology), and testing it in its laboratory.
Three of them are designed for household sanitisation and one of them for sanitising bigger spaces like hospital wards, buses, metros, and railway compartments, including those transformed for COVID-19 care.
According to the research team, one of the critical requirements that COVID-19 PPE fabrication material should have is a waterproof ability.
The research team will also be exploring potential technology for anti-microbial coating on PPE to reduce the viral load on PPE during exposure to COVID-19.
The PPE kit includes a jumped suite, face shield, mouth mask, head covers, gowns and shoe covers.
The initial trial for the production of 15,000 PPEs has been completed successfully.