Researchers develop portable virus removal device capable of killing COVID-19 virus

[Courtesy of Korea Railroad Research Institute]

SEOUL -- South Korean researchers have developed a portable virus removal device capable of eliminating more than 99.9 percent of COVID-19 viruses in a second using ultraviolet rays instead of conventional liquid disinfectants. The solution does not leave behind any residue or generate fire so it can be used in crowded places such as subway stations.

The solution developed by the state-run Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) only weighs 1.8 kilograms, enabling workers to easily carry around and kill viruses on chairs and steering wheels of public transportation vehicles. It uses ultraviolet-C (UV-C) in a wavelength band of 275 nm. UV-C, also called Deep UV, emits ultraviolet light with short wavelengths. UV-C radiation is a known disinfectant for air, water and surfaces that can help mitigate the risk of acquiring an infection.

The institute will carry out further research to apply its technology to indoor multi-purpose facilities. "We will expand research and development so that technology can be applied to public transportation and indoor multi-use facilities," Lee Cheul-kyu, a senior KRRI researcher, said in a statement on November 15.

COVID-19 prompted researchers to develop various quarantine equipment and autonomous robots. Because UV-C treatment can cause skin ulceration and sometimes serious burns, quarantine robots are mainly operated in vacant areas or places with a very small moving population.

Kim Joo-heon jhkim123@ajunews.com

Researchers develop portable virus removal device capable of killing COVID-19 virus

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