The Covid-19 pandemic has made people completely aware of their hygiene and hygienical practices. Apart from keeping the hands clean and sanitizing them every now and then, it has become extremely necessary to clean and disinfect objects as well as surfaces that are regularly touched by many people.
Log 9 Materials Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru headquartered nanotechnology startup has been trying to solve the surface sanitizing problem with the help of its product CoronaOven. CoronaOven is a patent-pending Technology this oven uses UV-C light to disinfect the surfaces of various objects.
It was founded by Akash Singhal and Kartik Hajela, in 2014. Log 9 Materials is a graphene (single layer of carbon atoms) research and development startup. Log 9 Materials is involved in designing original products using graphene and is helping in commercializing its use.
Akshay says, “CoronaOven is primarily a disinfectant technology. It sanitizers any object which can be placed inside its chamber. It uses appropriate UV-C light intensity approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to kill coronavirus and other pathogens.”
Working of CoronaOven
As per the co-founder, this plug-in disinfecting chamber is a little bigger than a microwave oven. It can be used to disinfect any materials which will fit into it. For example, e-commerce packages, grocery items, milk packets, wallet, masks, gloves, electronic gadgets, among others. Within 10 minutes, all the items which are put into this oven will be disinfected.
Akshay explained, this machine uses the in-built UV lamp and is designed in such a way to disinfect all the objects from every possible angle. Not only does it have certification from ICMR but this product has been tested and verified even in the laboratory of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
“The chamber is contactless and provides cold sanitization thus no harm is done to the products via heating. Apart from this, at a time when mask and gloves are facing supply shortages, sanitizing the product and reusing them is a better alternative than watching them” he adds.
Talking of the technology, the co-founder added a certain controlled amount of UV-C light permanently damages the RNA sequence of the SARS-CoV2 virus. It also damages the ability of the virus to multiply in living cells.
In a press release, this startup has also claimed that the CoronaOven has received a biological indicator test certificate from the Trustwell Hospital in Bangalore. Presently, it is undergoing BSL-3 virological testing in the ICMR- approved laboratories.
Apart from this, to test the use of this product on different microorganisms such as gram-positive and negative bacteria and drug-resistant fungus which are actually known to be difficult to disinfect from objects and surfaces, Log 9 Materials has joined hands with ICMR approved Dr. Dangs Path Lab in Delhi.
More of the business plans
Presently this startup is providing three Business to Consumers (B2C) variants in CoronaOven which depends on the size of the machine. As per Akshay, 20 litres variant costs Rs. 11,000, 33 litres variant cost Rs. 16,000 and 40 litres variant costs Rs. 23,999. he also said that instead of 10 minutes the 40-litre variant requires only 4 minutes to disinfect the product. Log 9 Materials has sold approximately 1,500 CoronaOven machines to date.
Talking about the future plans, the co-founder said, “We are now planning to expand the technology to disinfect bigger surfaces and expand the application of the product. We are now developing larger variants too. For example, for sanitizing baggage and trolleys at the airports, cabinet-sized machines to disinfect body coveralls and PPE gears, disinfecting products in apparel stores, etc.”
He also added that the startup is already in talking terms with Bangalore International airport for installing larger variants to sanitize luggage.
Akshay explained that emits the coronavirus pandemic many others have come up with UV light disinfection solutions. but he on the other hand believes it is most important for technology should be backed up by certifications and Science.
He also explained that this technology only works with a certain amount of UV light and it needs to be measured as well as certified as done by this particular startup.
Delhi headquartered startup, Green Grapes Devices is one among its competitors, has developed the UV Sterilization box. This can be used to disinfect small-sized and daily use items such as cell phones, keys, watches, rings, masks, etc.