ROPAR: Continuing the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, an IIT Ropar researcher has developed a wholly unique and much needed UVGI TECHNOLOGY-BASED CURRENCY, CARD AND DOCUMENT DISINFECTION’ DEVICE. This affordable device has been designed and prototyped by Dr. Khushboo Rakha, Assistant Professor, Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, IIT Ropar in collaboration with Humanity Works, Mumbai.
This portable unit can disinfect both sides of any bank note, plastic currency, receipts and leaf documents of A4 and letter size. The multiple hand exchange of currency notes, receipts and other such documents pose a high risk to users through surface transmission of viruses and bacteria. Conventional methods of disinfection, such as chemical disinfection or washing are not suitable for these materials. This currency, card and document disinfection device provides 99.9% elimination of harmful microbes, thus containing the spread of deadly pathogens.
The unit is recommended for its use in public & private offices, banks, petrol pumps, shops and commercial establishments where cash/card transactions and document circulation are a part of routine activities. The design team introduced the essential features in the device to optimize its effectiveness with the help of calculations and tests done at IIT Ropar, while ensuring the highest level of user safety from UVGI.
The Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) has the ability to inactivate all types of bacteria and viruses tested so far including Coronaviruses. The UVGI light operates within the UV-C spectrum, which is the effective wavelength spectrum for germicidal action.
While elaborating, Dr. Khushboo Rakha said, “This simple device is the need of the hour to help organizations like Banks, Post offices, Govt and Private Offices work safely during this pandemic as this machine (UVGI disinfectant) uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (ultraviolet C or UV-C) light to kill or inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to reproduce and infect. IIT Ropar is dedicated to work for the welfare of the society and nation at large in this time of crisis.”