IITs Kanpur & Bombay develop advanced air purification system to exterminate COVID

In an effort to combat the everlasting COVID-19, IIT Kanpur and IIT Bombay, in a joint venture, have developed an air purification device that can eliminate 99.9% of the germs in the air, including coronavirus particles. Reportedly, the device has been named ‘Anti-Microbial Air Purification Technology.

As per a press release issued by the premier institutes, the technology has proved to be a path-breaking innovation against air pollutants as well as airborne coronavirus contaminants.

The technology has been tested at CSIR-IMTECH and has proven to be able to deactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus with an efficacy of 99.9% within just 1 minute. Developed by AiRTH, a startup incubated at the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, this technology aims to end the limitations of existing air purification technologies.

Currently, the air purifiers available in the market, work on the mechanism of capturing particles. This, in turn, transforms the purifier into a breeding ground for germs in itself.

However, the newly developed device makes sure that the germs are eradicated as it is equipped with a plant-based coating on the filters, UV irradiations and OH (Hydroxyl) radicals.

As per the reports, the D-C-D (Deactivate-Capture-Deactivate) mechanism on which the new system works, can have up to 8000 times better disinfection efficiency compared to conventional UV-based air purifiers.

With validation from trusted and respected laboratories of India like CSIR-NPL, and CSIR-CDRI, amongst others, the new device will change the dynamics of the air purification industry as well as help fight COVID.

Reportedly, the startup and its technology have been funded by the Nexus Start-up Development Grant, an initiative by the US Embassy. Seed funding was provided under the ‘Nidhi4covid2.0’, a special drive initiated by the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB).

The concerned departments have already sanctioned the usage of the Anti Microbial Air Purifiers by AiRTH in hospitals, as well as private and government offices. Currently, the device is being used in several hospitals protecting immuno-compromised cancer patients at fatal risk even from a common cold.