IIT Kanpur Develops Low-Cost Process For Disinfecting Users In Under Two Minutes 

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) have developed a low-cost rapid disinfectant chamber that, they claim, can effectively disinfect users in under two minutes.

‘Rapid Disinfection Process Chambers’ has been developed by merging two disinfection approaches that is safe for human beings, researchers say.

In a statement reported by NDTV, the institute said that the process required two chambers -- atomisation chamber and thermal shock chamber.

Faculty members from various departments such as Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Industrial and Management Engineering (IME) were involved in developing chamber.

According to Professor Deepu Philip, in the first process, an individual is exposed to atomisation process for 30 seconds, where the individual is sprayed upon with an atomised disinfectant solution -- a mix of personal disinfectant, hospital disinfectant, and hand soaps.

After completing this process, the individual waits outside for 30 seconds before entering the second chamber.

In thermal shock process, the individual stays inside the chamber under an elevated temperature of about 60 to 65 Degree Celsius for 10 seconds. “The temperature is controlled using low pressure sodium lamp and room heaters which allows a near red spectrum,” Philip says.

Deputy director of IITK, Professor Manindra Agrawal, says an individual feels the difference of 30 Degree Celsius when entering the thermal shock chamber from outside. This results in killing most of the germs on the body, he added.

He says the innovation is a unique combination of the two processes which is effective in killing at least 80 to 90 per cent germs on one’s body or clothes.

Agrawal says such chambers can be installed at public places such as hospitals, shopping malls, market place, or any place that attracts large crowds.a

About the purpose of such a system, Philip says the idea was to build the chambers using cheap equipment and material which are easily available. Makers say that the system can be made in 48 hours and in under Rs 50,000.

“In bulk manufacturing, we expect the cost per complete system to come below Rs. 50,000. The system is suitable for strategic locations like hospitals, large department stores, public offices, secure installations, factories, etc,” said the statement by IITK.

One unit of the system has been currently in operations at IIT-K’s Health Centre since 31 March. It has regularly been used to disinfect individuals.

The institution is holding discussions with Kanpur district administration, several hospitals including Cantonment Hospital regarding the supply and installation of some units of the system.