10 technologies developed for disinfection

At least 10 innovative technologies for disinfection using ultraviolet radiation, ozone, and microplasma have been developed by startups supported by the Centre for Augmenting WAR with Covid-19 Health Crisis (CAWACH), an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

CAWACH was launched in April after the outbreak to scout for and support technologies that can be scaled up easily for controlling and managing the infectious disease The initiative, started at a cost of ₹56 crore, was meant to identify 50 innovations for ventilators and other respiratory aids, protective gear, sanitisers and disinfectants, diagnostics and therapeutics.

Among the innovations that have resulted are a refrigerator like device developed by Mumbai-based Inphlox Water Systems that disinfects personal protective gear used by healthcare workers so that they can be reused.

“The health-care workers will just have to put in their protective gear after the shift in the machine and run it for a cycle to disinfect it and wear it again. It uses ozone,” said Abhijit VVR, co-founder, Inphlox.

The device is being sent to Indian Institute of TechnologyBombay and Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB)-Hyderabad for testing.

Another technology developed for water purification by the Coimbatore-based Eta Purification can be used to disinfect spaces using microplasma or partially ionised gasses. This is more effective at killing viruses than sodium hypochlorite that is extensively used to disinfect spaces. The technology called COSMO (Complete Sterilization by Microplasma Oxidation) system can rapidly disinfect areas like quarantine facilities, hospitals, and the surfaces and equipment there. The device uses microchannels to convert room air to ozone for disinfection.