The Faculty of Engineering of Thammasat University and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation have launched “Tham – UV Clean”, a UV sterilizer kiosk that can kill 100% of viruses in 5 minutes.
“Tham – UV Clean” is a work of Asst.Prof.Dr. Patchaya Prempraneerat, Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, and Assoc.Prof.Dr. Worrada Samosornsuk, the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University. The inventor team has produced 100 sets of sterilizer kiosks for distribution to hospitals with COVID-19’s patients and hospitals that lack N95 face masks such as Thammasat University Hospital, Narathiwat Ratchanakharin Hospital, and Vachira Phuket Hospital, said Assoc.Prof.Dr. Thee Chiasiripongkul.
This sterilizer kiosk passed an efficiency test and showed that it can kill bacteria that cause Pneumonitis, Acute Transverse Myelitis, and skin infection. After sterilization, the masks maintain 90% of their virus protection abilities.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Thee Chiasiripongkul, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, states “Due to COVID-19 situation in Thailand and rise in infected cases, there is a high risk of disease transmission to medical workers. Due to the current shortage of “face masks”, there are insufficient face masks to serve medical workers’ needs. Therefore, in order to solve the problem and safely reuse face masks, the Faculty of Engineering has developed this sterilization kiosk,”
In terms of face mask disinfection, the kiosk uses “UV-C” wave to disinfect 3 face masks per one round of sterilization. The face mask will be placed 2-3 cm. away from each other and sterilized for 5 minutes in order to effectively disinfect both the inner and outer surface of face masks. When the sterilization is done, Tham – UV Clean will notify users to take a face mask to use.
The Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI), led by Assoc Prof Pornchai Trakulwaranon, representative of Dr Suvit Mesinnatree, Minister of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Ms Nutchanapa Reunobchoey, MHESI’s Senior Advisor in Educational Standards, and MHESI’s Minister Deputy Representative, have now distributed the first lot of “Tham – UV Clean” in total 100 kiosks to the hospitals in the country.