IIT Madras develops smart air purifier

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology Madras-incubated startup AirOK launched India’s first indigenously developed Smart Air purifier ‘Vistar’ at Chennai recently. Powered by an EGAPA (Efficient Granular Adsorbent Particulate Arrester), Vistar can filter a variety of pollutants such as particulate matter, microbes, fungus and gaseous substances.

The purifiers have Wi-Fi and touch interface and the functioning of the purifier, in terms of the quantum of pollutants in the air, can be ascertained in real-time. The company will target institutional segment which includes hospitals, hospitality, commercial real estate, food processing and manufacturing in the initial phase.

Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Faculty in charge, IIT Madras Research park, launched the product at a function held here. Vistar 550 has coverage area of 550 square feet. The filter will have a life of about one year, which is twice that of the air purifiers currently available in the market. Addressing the launch function, Jhunjhunwala said, “Ever increasing airpollution in Indian cities is having severe impact on health of its people. We need a war on pollution causing elements. But in the meanwhile, we need to minimise its impact, by cleaning air, wherever it is possible. AirOK has come up with something which will make great an immediate difference to our lives.”

The air purifier will be priced at around ₹20,000, almost half that of those in the market now as affordability is a key area for AirOK. The Startup can manufacture up to 30 units per day currently and can increase the production capacity to 1,000 without any major additional investment.The positive results of the laboratory tests were conducted by Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, Bengaluru and field trials by a leading Children specialty hospital in Chennai.