Panjab University, Chandigarh facility joins hands with US-based firm

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 31

Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility (SAIF) at Panjab University, Chandigarh, has collaborated with a US-based air purifying manufacturer to assemble and optimise the company’s air purifiers in 10 hospitals. This number is expected to increase in the coming days.

Covid wards and ICUs at several hospitals in Chandigarh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh will soon be able to improve their ventilation facilities with the help of air purification units from the American company, Molekule.

Under the partnership between SAIF, a facility supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and Molekule, air purifiers will be donated to hospitals across the country.

Efforts are underway to cover most of the Covid-affected states in the country to help them in the battle against the pandemic and provide patients, doctors and staff with much-needed clean air, according to a statement issued today by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The air purifier will help prevent transmission of Covid-19 through exposure to aerosolised respiratory droplets by facilitating adequate indoor air purification and ventilation in the hospitals. Molekule’s core technology, Photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO), is designed to destroy airborne pollutants like viruses, bacteria, mold or chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Tests on PECO for these air purifiers indicate up to 99.99 per cent inactivation of coronavirus strains and H1N1 flu virus, up to 95 per cent destruction of VOCs and airborne chemicals, and up to 99.9 per cent destruction of bacteria, mold and viruses in the air.

The first batch of Molekule’s Air Purifier Mini and Molekule Air Pro RX models was received, assembled and tested at SAIF by its technical staff.

Air Pro RX optimised for air purification in multipurpose facilities at hospitals including emergency wards and ICUs.

Beneficiaries

So far, 42 units have been distributed to Panjab University’s Covid care centre, Health Centre and Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital. Sixty units have been handed over to the PGI, Chandigarh, 30 units to the GMSH-16, and 20 units to the GMCH-32, Chandigarh.