DST gives funding approval to IITK, E-Spin Nanotech for developing reusable N95, N99 masks
N95 Masks
Kanpur: The Department of Science & Technology (DST) under its Nano Mission has approved the funding to IIT-Kanpur for the development of new, advanced, affordable and reusable N95 and N99 masks, which will strengthen India’s fight to check the Coronavirus pandemic in the Country.
An IIT Kanpur startup, E-Spin Nanotech, founded by IIT Kanpur alumnus Dr. Sandip Patil in association with Professor Sri SivaKumar from Department of Chemical Engineering and Professors Thiruvancheril G. Gopakumar and Raja Angamuthu from Department of Chemistry are working on the production of advanced antiviral and antibacterial affordable reusable masks.
“The Centre for Nanosciences is working on the development of reusable N-95 and N-99 masks. The mask will have anti-viral and anti-bacterial property and it will also give very good comfort in breathing. The product is being developed using electro-spun Nanofibres. The mask will have multiple layers which will filter the particles anything more than 100 nanometre. The mask will give good breathing comfort. The project is supported by DST Nano mission and will help us to get commercialised”, said Prof SivaKumar.
Dr Patil while talking about development of reusable N-95 and N-99 masks said, “We have a patented technology to produce a nano-fibre with a capacity of one thousand metre to 10,000 metre per day. We are going to use the same technology to produce anti-viral and anti-bacterial face masks with reusuable characteristic of the order of 50,000 to one lakh masks per day.”
Dr SivaKumar also informed that this is a collaborative project between Chemistry Department and Chemical Engineering Department.
By EP Web Desk
