Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) researchers have developed the cheapest respiratory filter so far.
Te newly developed filter will restrict entry of up to 95 percent dust and air pollutants.
The filter named as “Nasofilters” is a nano-respiratory filter will cost around Rs 10. The product is ready for commercialisation. It will protect against the finest particulate pollutants in the air for at least eight hours and hence reduce the risk of respiratory diseases.
President Pranab Mukherjee recently awarded the team of innovators with the “National Startups Award” for “Nasofilters”. The team includes, IIT Delhi faculty members, Manjeet Jassal and Ashwini K Agrawal along with institute’s alumni, Sanjeev Jain, Prateek Sharma, Tushar Vyas and a student Jatin Kewlani.
“To protect the health of millions, the team has developed an incredible filter technology to save people from the harmful effect of air pollution especially keeping in mind the PM2.5 concentration,” Aggarwal said.
Explaining about the project, the professor said, a thin flexible membrane was created by assembling millions of small-sized pores to capture tiny particles with high efficiency.
“This allows filters to be used for long hours while maintaining good breathability and comfort. The filters aim to provide relief to common users from air pollution and to protect people, who are prone to allergies. It also safeguards those who are exposed to job related industrial particulate pollutants. This is also probably the cheapest naso filter in comparison to the face masks and other alternatives available in the market to fight critical levels of air pollution,” he added.
The filter can stick to the user’s nasal orifice and would restrict entry of foreign particulate matter including PM2.5 particles, bacteria and pollen allergens.
The product will soon be available in Indian and global markets under the brand name “Nasofilters” by “Nanoclean Global Pvt Ltd” a company formed by the innovators.
