Delhi University's Hindu College has launched its first start-up with the development of a machine that can disinfect a range of items. The machine, designed like a microwave, has UVC (Ultraviolet-C) tubes that disinfect items, said Lalit Kumar, an Assistant Professor at the college, who has developed the machine. "You can place inside it any item that you want to disinfect. This machine can prove to be very useful for homes, offices, hospitals, grocery stores etc. Through this machine, currency notes, office files, grocery items, fruits, vegetables, glasses, masks, healthcare products, ATM cards, parcels, children's toys and other accessories can be disinfected within a minute," he said, as quoted in a report by PTI.
Kumar said that clothes cannot be put inside the machine as for the machine to disinfect an item, the surface has to be fully exposed. "You will need a bigger machine to disinfect clothes. Of course, you can keep a small piece of cloth for disinfecting," he said. The idea to develop such a machine was born in the light of the Coronavirus pandemic, Kumar said. He said the machine is the result of teamwork between Professor Anju Srivastava, the college Principal, Professor Reena Jain — both of whom are from the Chemistry Department — and IIT Delhi alumnus Updesh Verma.
"This machine is capable of inactivating 99.9 per cent of bacteria, viruses, yeast and mould within a minute of exposure," Kumar claimed. The machine works by destroying the RNA and DNA strands of virus and bacteria, he said. It has been certified by Shriram Institute for Industrial Research and safety features are recorded by the Laser Science and Technology division of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, he said.
The machine is available in the market for Rs 13,000 and has a capacity of 50 litres. It has been given an aesthetic look by two Delhi government school students who have painted it. The two girls painted the machine under the Business Blasters initiative of the city government. "A few months ago, I came across an article about two Delhi government school students who do hand painting. I had a word with them and they painted the front door of the machine. The machine looks beautiful. I have got all the machines in my inventory painted by them," he said.
The work on the machine was started eight months ago and based on the machine the college launched its first start-up, which it has named Lonuva Innovations. "Next in line is an air disinfectant that we are working on. It will disinfect the air as well as purify the air," Kumar said.
