In news– The Indian Institute of Science (IISC)-Bangalore has developed a ‘green’ tech to rid air filters of germs.
About the Air filtering technique-
- A research team IISc Bangalore has developed a germ-destroying air filter that can inactivate germs using ingredients like polyphenols and polycationic polymers commonly found in green tea.
- The ‘green’ ingredients rupture the microbes through site-specific binding.
- With prolonged use, air filters become a breeding ground for captured germs. The growth of these germs clog the pores of the filter, reducing their life.
- Re-suspension of these germs can infect people in the vicinity.
- The novel antimicrobial air filters were tested at an NABL accredited laboratory and were found to be 99.24% effective against SARS-CoV-2 (delta variant).
- The research was supported by special grants from SERB during the challenging Covid-19 pandemic and SERB-Technology Translation Awards (SERB-TETRA) funds and a patent has been filed on this.
- The technology was transferred to AIRTH, a start-up that is replacing the existing germ-growing air filters with these germ-destroying air filters for commercial purposes. The air-filtering technique was granted a patent in 2022.
- The deployment of these novel antimicrobial filters in ACs, central ducts, and air purifiers can play a crucial role in fight against air pollution and mitigate the spread of air-borne pathogens such as several coronaviruses.
