VNIT’s sterilizer can disinfect virtually anything in 5 minutes

Nagpur: Making use of expertise in nanoparticle technology, a team of researchers from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) has developed Ultraviolet Sterilizer Box (USB) that can disinfect mobile handsets, grocery, fruits, vegetables etc within five minutes without spoiling the items or causing harm to human beings.
It can come as a major relief for people who fear contracting Covid-19 while bringing necessary items into home and consume them. TOI on June 5 had reported a professor from Nagpur University has come up with two innovations based on ultraviolet (UV) technology which would do sanitization of mobile handsets, food items and vegetables.
Associate professor of department of Chemical Engineering, VNIT, Shriram S Sonawane and his students including a PhD student Malika Mudliar have designed the USB using nanoparticle technology along with UV-C light system. Under the guidance of VNIT director Pramod Padole, they will be soon applying for patent of the technology.
Already, Sonawane has a few patents including extraction of four or more solutes from a solvent with 100% efficiency and less cost using nanoparticle technology. He said their technology ensured 100% killing of all types of viruses including Covid-19 using non-chemical and non-contact methods.
Sonawane said Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle (NP) is coated on the housing to absorb more UV irradiation and enhance the antibacterial activity of the sterilizer. It is regarded as a good antibacterial agent because it is stable under harsh processing conditions and is considered safe for humans and animals.
Compared to organic materials, inorganic materials like ZnO have greater durability, selectivity, and heat resistance. “Various strains of microbes have been tested to investigate its antimicrobial properties,” he said.
Sonawane informed the technology uses UV light rays of wavelength 2,537 Angstrom units (Aº). Studies have shown exposure to UV in range of 1,500 to 4,000 Aº preferably about 2,537 Aº modifies the DNA of microorganisms. The higher-energy UV-C rays can damage DNA and RNA via cross-linking of thymidine and uracil nucleotides, respectively, thus preventing replication of bacteria and viruses.
Sonawane also claimed the technology would cost less than the existing ones. “Lifespan of UV tube will be over 5-6 years. ZnO NP kit needs to be changed once in four months depending upon usage. USB is a onetime investment,” he said.
Research has shown survival of Covid-19 upto 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel, four hours on copper and 24 hours on cardboard. Sonawane said the research was conducted under laboratory conditions and should be interpreted with caution in real-life environment. The need is to protect oneself from this highly contagious virus. USB can be placed at doorsteps to sanitize every small item brought from outside,” he said.
After getting patent, Sonawane and his team may think of manufacturing USB at VNIT itself or enter into an agreement with any company for bringing the product for public.