Israeli researchers have created a way to turn tap water into a gentle yet powerful disinfectant that kills viruses, including bacteria from the coronavirus family.
By Anash.org reporter
Researchers from Bar-Ilan University announced their successful development of new methodologies to produce powerful, environmentally-friendly disinfectants, based on tap water, that can eliminate bacteria and kill viruses, including microbes from the coronavirus family.
The ability to turn ordinary tap water into virus-fighting materials was developed and patented by Dr. Eran Avraham, Dr. Izaak Cohen, and Prof. Doron Aurbach, who leads the electrochemistry group in the Department of Chemistry and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials at Bar-Ilan University.
The disinfectants are effective and safe to use, and do not contaminate groundwater. The technology works through an array of nanometer-shaped electrodes with unique surface properties. The meeting between water and electrodes creates a cleaning material in a unique aquatic environment. The combination of these compounds gives rise to an effective antibacterial capability for bacteria, viruses and spores, while at the same time is safe for larger bodies such as skin cells.
The platform on which the technology is based enables the preparation of a variety of solutions for clean spaces from bacteria, such as spray-aerosols for disinfecting surfaces, appliances, beds, closets, bathrooms, toilets, etc. It can be used in disinfectant wipes, hand washing, shoe washing, buckets for washing and disinfecting floors, air-conditioning systems and washing machines.
The ability to produce electrodes in a variety of shapes and textures makes the technology suitable to almost any application – from a ‘cassette’ in an air conditioner, a container for washing fish and meat, to disinfection and removal of pesticides from vegetables and fruit, mobile spray, a device for manufacturing disposable antibacterial cloths and many other applications – even masks and gloves.
The antiseptic capability is 100 times more effective than bleach, are also much more environmentally friendly and do not cause burns or dry skin. As such, they may be effective in treating wounds, a possibility being investigated. They don’t cause corrosion, and most importantly, with the very low concentration of 50 mg they eliminate all kinds of viruses.
In electrode-free containers, the disinfectants can remain effective for two months and may be sold in recyclable bottles. For reusable bottled products, a fairly simple process can be applied to enable long-term use.
“We examined the ability of these materials to impair herpes simplex virus type 1 infection and human coronavirus OC43,” reported Professor Ronit Sarid, a scientist who tested the material. “Both viruses were completely eliminated when exposed to the disinfectants for different periods of time. The structural characteristics of OC43 are similar to those of recent SARS-CoV-2 suggesting that this virus will also be easily eliminated with this disinfectant.”