A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, has developed a technology that converts air conditioners into low-cost air purifiers. With smog and pollution posing serious concerns in many cities, particularly during the winter, this invention is expected to be a boon to many.
The advancement is consistent with IIT Kanpur’s work in the field of air quality assessment and monitoring. IIT Kanpur has assisted various state governments and organisations in the deployment of technologies to combat air pollution. According to IIT Kanpur, this technology is a simple handy tool that can be easily mounted atop regular ACs and used by switching on ‘fan mode.’
The air filters are equipped with “Anti-Microbial Air Purification Technology” developed at IIT Kanpur in collaboration with researchers from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. According to the institute, it has been tested at a NABL Accredited Lab and has proven to successfully deactivate SARS-CoV-2 (delta variant) with an efficiency of 99.24%.
A technology protects us from viruses
Commenting on the development of this novel technology, Prof. Ankush Sharma, Professor-in-charge, Innovation and Incubation, IIT Kanpur, said, “The novel air purification technology used in these air filters has successfully proven its efficiency towards protecting us from life-threatening viruses. This innovation is a great addition to the R&D work IIT Kanpur is involved in.”
Co-Professor-in-charge, Innovation and Incubation, IIT Kanpur, Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, said, “This innovation has tremendous potential to succeed in the global market. This launch is indicative of technology catering to critical world problems. I wish the team involved all the best with this new product.”
Existing air filters in the market use a particle capture mechanism; however, with continuous use, the filter itself becomes a breeding ground for germs, similar to a petri dish. The market price for such air purifiers is around Rs 10,000, and they typically come with a fan and an air filter to clean the air. According to IIT Kanpur, this new type of air filter developed by them has proven to restrict microbial growth and is capable of capturing PM 2.5, PM 10, dust, pollen, allergens, and germs from the air while purifying.
For marketing, the innovation has been licenced to AiRTH, a startup incubated at IIT Kanpur’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre. It has been released as a product under the name ‘Clean Air Module,’ with a price tag of Rs. 2000. It is claimed that one ‘Clean Air Module’ is as effective as ten standard AC filters. The product is now available for purchase on AiRTH’s website as well as other e-commerce sites.
