A technology to turn AC into an air purifier has developed by the researchers of IISC and IIT Kanpur. The existing air filters in the market work on a particle capture mechanism. However, with continuous use, the filter itself becomes a breeding ground for germs like a Petri dish.

The Co-Professor-in-charge, Innovation and Incubation, IIT Kanpur, said, “This technology comes as a simplistic handy tool, which can be easily mounted atop regular ACs and utilized by switching on the ‘fan mode’. The air filters are equipped with ‘Anti-Microbial Air Purification Technology’ developed by the researchers. It has been tested at NABL Accredited Lab and has proven to be able to successfully deactivate SARS-CoV-2 (Delta variant) with an efficiency of 99.24 per cent. This indigenous revolutionary innovation has tremendous potential to succeed in the global market. This launch is indicative of technology catering to critical world problems.”

“The minimum cost of such air purifiers in the market is around Rs 10,000, which usually comes with a fan and an air filter to clean the air. On the other hand, this new type of air filter has proven to restrict microbial growth and is capable of capturing PM2.5, PM10, dust, pollen, allergens and germs from the air while purifying,” he added.

The technology has been licensed to AiRTH for marketing. AiRTH is a start-up incubated at IIT-Kanpur. Startup has won several awards including ‘Awarded Nexus Startup Development Grant’ An initiative by the US Embassy to promote Indian Startups, and ‘Awarded Best Innovation of the Year 2022’ At the World Environment Expo 2022.

Ravi Kaushik, an IIT-Bombay alumnus and CEO of AiRTH said,” “It has been launched in the form of a product as ‘Clean Air Module’ and comes at an affordable price of Rs 2,000. One ‘Clean Air Module’ is claimed to be as effective as 10 normal AC filters. The product is now available for purchase through AiRTH’s website and other e-commerce sites.”