Tel Aviv research: 99.9% of COVID-19 virus dead in 30 seconds with UV L
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All on Sat Dec 26 14:58:47 2020
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Ultraviolet radiation is a common method of killing bacteria and
viruses. Now, researchers from Tel Aviv University have proven that the
novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, can be killed efficiently, quickly and
cheaply using ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) at
specific frequencies.
“We discovered that it is quite simple to kill the coronavirus using
LED bulbs that radiate ultraviolet light,” said Prof. Hadas Mamane,
head of the Environmental Engineering Program at Tel Aviv University's
School of Mechanical Engineering, who led the study with Prof. Yoram
Gerchman and Dr. Michal Mandelboim.
She said that the UV-LED bulbs require less than half a minute to
destroy more than 99.9% of the coronaviruses.
The study is the first of its kind in the world. An article about it
was published earlier this month in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology.
The Jerusalem Post has written about Mamane many times. She presented
this summer at the Boris Mints Institute 2020 Research Conference on
her involvement in the construction of a 30-meter "green wall" at the university, which is meant to create a sustainable ecosystem for waste,
energy and water.
The wall is also meant to act as a living laboratory to analyze the
uses of greywater (wastewater generated from sinks, showers, baths, and
washing machines) in absorbing carbon dioxide, as well as the effects
on heat transfer and energy generation within old buildings that are
prevalent in urban settings.
At the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, her research team developed
an Israeli, low-cost, decentralized, nonpolluting means of producing
ethanol – and thereby an alcohol-based hand sanitizer – from plant-
based waste, such as municipal and agricultural trim, straw and
residual paper fibers.
LEDs are available in a wide range of wavelengths, known as A, B and C, explained Mamane.
UV-A has a wavelength in the range of 315 nanometers (nm) to 400 nm.
UV-B, also known as medium wave light, has a wavelength of 280-315 nm;
UV-C has a wavelength of 200-280 nm.
UV-A is emitted by the sun (and artificial sources like tanning beds)
and is weaker than UV-B and C. It has some human benefits, such as the
creation of vitamin D, but it is also what causes sunburns and, in some
cases, skin cancer.
UV-B and C radiation never really reaches humans naturally because
these rays are absorbed by the earth’s ozone layer.
These ultraviolet wavelengths, which are what Tel Aviv researchers were examining, are especially effective in disinfection using UV-LED bulbs.
“We know, for example, that medical staff do not have time to manually disinfect, say, computer keyboards and other surfaces in hospitals –
and the result is infection and quarantine,” said Mamane. “The
disinfection systems based on LED bulbs, however, can be installed in
the ventilation system and air conditioner, for example, and sterilize
the air sucked in and then emitted into the room.”
She added that, "We are also developing, together with a scientist in
North Western University a transparent coating that can be dipped or
sprayed on surfaces and can kill viruses using visible light LEDs that
are not dangerous and are used everywhere, providing another
application for regular LEDs."
In her team’s research, they managed to kill the virus using cheaper
and more readily available LED bulbs – 285 nm vs. 265 nm bulbs – which
consume little energy and do not contain mercury like regular UV lamps.
She said that as the science develops, the industry will be able to
make the necessary adjustments and install the bulbs in robotic
systems, or air conditioning, vacuum and water systems, and thereby be
able to efficiently disinfect large surfaces and spaces.
“Our research has commercial and societal implications,” Mamane said.
She added that her team had been working on UV-LEDs for a long time
before coronavirus. But when COVID-19 surfaced, they tried to see if
they could transfer their efforts to tackling the human coronavirus,
studying the use of LEDs for killing corona at different frequencies.
She said the 285 nm LED is 15% to 30% less expensive and requires only
a little more time to be effective.
“Anything that can reduce cost could help implementation,” she said.
She added that UV LEDs have an advantage because they can be turned on
and off in an instant.
Mamane believes that this technology is the future, adding that she
expects that by 2025, it will be cost effective enough to become
mainstream.
“UV LEDs have a huge future,” she added. “Of course, as always, when it
comes to ultraviolet radiation, it is important to make it clear to
people that it is dangerous to try to use this method to disinfect
surfaces inside homes. You need to know how to design these systems and
how to work with them so that you are not directly exposed to the
light.”
--
Joe Biden went from stealing someone's wife, to stealing speeches, to
stealing money, to stealing an election.
He has really grown as a politician.
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