COVID-19: IIT Jodhpur develops sterilisation system for medical equipment

IIT Jodhpur has developed an Advanced Photocatalytic Oxidation Sterilization System based on UV-light and metal oxide nanoparticles catalyst panels. This can be used for sterilization of medical accessories being used by doctors and COVID-19 patient handlers.

Jodhpur: A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur has developed a device that will help in disinfecting N-95 masks, aprons, PPE kits, etc in just five minutes so that they can be reused.

The device sanitizes medical accessories with the help of ultraviolet rays and oxidized nanotubes. IIT Director Prof. Shantanu Chaudhary said that after making the device it was used in AIIMS Jodhpur on an experimental basis and was given green signal after 15 days.

IIT Jodhpur will transfer this technique to the industries at zero cost for mass production. This device can disinfect around 200 masks a day, which will solve the problem of scarcity of masks.

IIT's Physics, Electrical, Mechanical, and Bioscience Department had started the project together with IAS Dr Indrajit Yadav, CEO of Jodhpur District Council.

Project Head Prof. Ram Prakash stated that this is an Advanced Photocatalytic Oxidation Sterilization System, which is based on ultraviolet radiation and nanotubes of metallic oxide.