IIT Ropar faculty developed device to produce electrolyzed water to combat viruses
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Electrolyzed water has been used in the medical field for over a century. Electrolyzed water was used to irrigate and disinfect wounds in World War I before antibiotics were available.
IIT ROPAR team of professors, Dr.Vishwajeet Mehandia, Assistant Professor, Dr.S. Manigandan, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Ropar and Prof. C. R. Suri, Head, Central Research Facility, IIT Ropar have developed LOW-COST DEVICE TO PRODUCE ELECTROLYZED WATER that could be used as an alternative to alcohol-based disinfectant led to combat Corona virus pandemic. The acidic electrolyzed water with a pH of 5.0-6.5 and high concentration of Free Available Chlorine (FAC) could be used as an alternative. Recently, freely available chlorine has been reported to potently inactivate the coronavirus. The electrolyzed water also shows strong killing activity against bacteria, fungi and many other types of viruses.
Unlike traditional procedure of cleaning water with chlorine treatment, electrolysed water does not harm humans. It also shows strong activity against food borne pathogens that could be beneficial for food and agricultural industries.
Dr. Mehandia added that, “We have successfully developed the electrolyzed water from the tap water in our laboratory with a pH of 5.0-6.5 and a high concentration of FAC (Freely available Chlorine). It can be prepared within 5 minutes and stable up to 1 week. We have tested the stability of electrolyzed water for upto 48 hrs.”
Prof. Suri added that, “It can be used in healthcare, food safety, water treatment, and general sanitation.”
Divulging more, Dr. Manigandan added that On the fight against the COVID-19 virus Electrolyzed Water can be used as “a Powerful Natural Tool for Killing Bacteria and Viruses. Electrolyzed water is non-toxic and non-flammable and therefore does not require hazardous or chemical storage or handling precautions. Nor any special shipping or export requirements.”
The team is also in touch with few industrial partners to commercialize this technology.
February 23,2021
