The disinfection system is similar in size to a desktop computer and can be placed in any room such as a room or a car to disinfect surfaces in the room with cold atmospheric plasma. “We are developing systems based on our patented technology for generating cold atmospheric plasma. By and large, we expose the ambient air to a very strong electric field by pulling electrons from the neutral particles in the air and forming ions. This system can produce up to 70 different types, from ultraviolet rays to peroxides, ozone or nitrogen oxides. The synergies between these allow the neutralization of bacteria and viruses, ”explains Enrique Medina, CEO and co-founder of Cedrión.
A disinfection system is being developed that can neutralize COVID-19 in minutes. Image credit: UC3M
Based on this technology, Cedrión can be used in two ways: It can be used to purify the air and surfaces. The first is a silent system that disinfects rooms where people are, circulates the air, and neutralizes bacteria and viruses. The second use will clean all surfaces in the room if they are empty. For this purpose, the system releases ions that are recombined in neutral particles after disinfection.
Testing of this disinfection system will begin in November at the Spanish National Biotechnology Center (CNB-CSIC, Spanish acronym) to test the neutralization of the strains of coronavirus that affect humans, including SARS-COV-2. The start-up, which was housed in the UC3M – ESA BIC Madrid Region node until 2019, plans to have the system tested and certified by the end of this year so that it can be installed in hospitals, schools and offices, among others.
“We tested the system with different types of bacteria and were able to neutralize 99.99% in less than a minute. We have also started testing strains of the coronavirus that do not affect humans and have had some very promising results, ”concludes Medina.
