With IIT-B’s sanitisation box, zap coronavirus off groceries, veggies

MUMBAI: When the Mehtas returned home after a quick round at the supermarket, they wondered how they would sanitize the packets of rice, the tetrapacks of milk, the vegetables and fruits. If shopping for basic essentials isn’t a challenge enough these days, the anxiety about getting rid of any possible traces of the coronavirus lurking on surfaces of various items is another nightmare.
The virus-free sanitization box developed by four PhD students from the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay promises a quick-fix solution to this dilemma.Developed after the lockdown came into effect, just about anything can be tossed into the box for a few minutes, and it comes out sanitized.
Explaining how it works, Ratnesh Mishra, who worked on the device along with Manvi Dhawan, Tushar Jadhav and Ashtesh Kumar, says, “The box uses UVC (ultraviolet-C) rays to sanitize objects.”
Kumar says the product was created using the bare minimum available. They picked up a spare dustbin, wrapped it in foil, attached a sensor to it and started testing the product using a UVC lamp. Since UVC radiation is harmful for humans, the sensor does not allow the UVC lamp to start unless the lid is closed.
The commercial use of UVC light in water treatment and for sanitizing hospital spaces is known. “Now, we are deploying it to kill the coronavirus on potentially contaminated surfaces. The idea is to commercialise it so it can be used for household items,” said Mishra.
“We are also speaking to the medical fraternity to permit us to conduct trials on personal protective equipment used by them as they are in short supply,” he added.
For now, the box costs Rs 1,000 and the UVC lamp has a life of about a year.