Hyderabad University innovative attempt of creating a UVC disinfection trolley to fight COVID-19

In a fight against Covid-19, a UVC based disinfection trolley to rapidly clean hospital environment has been created by the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous R&D Centre of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India and University of Hyderabad (UoH) together with the help of Mekins Industries Ltd. (MIL). Rapid decontamination of the used patient-care beds and hospital rooms before admission of subsequent occupants is a major requirement in hospitals in view of the limited availability of beds.

Often, chemical disinfectants are not enough to remove the bacteria and viruses found in hospitals and other contamination prone environment. Coronavirus is sensitive



to UVC light, as in the case of other viruses and bacteria. The germicidal effects of UVC irradiation with a peak intensity at 254 nm results in cellular damage of the virus, thereby inhibiting cellular replication. Unlike chemical approaches to disinfection, UV light provides rapid, effective inactivation of microorganisms through a physical process.

The UVC disinfection trolley (Height 1.6mx Width 0.6m x Length 0.9m) consists of 6 UVCgermicidal tubes, which are arranged in such a way that 3 sides are illuminated with 2 tubes facing each direction.

While these lamps take care of disinfection on the walls, bed, and room air, the floor disinfection is done by 2 smaller UV lights located at the bottom facing the floor.