A prototype based on BIO-UV Group's UV technology, which is usually used to eliminate invasive species found in ships' ballast water tanks, is being tested to be used as a surface disinfection system against Covid-19.
Ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) consist of a variety of technologies, including ultra-violet treatment, used to kill invasive aquatic species in ships' ballast water tanks.
French company BIO-UV Group has developed a prototype of a surface disinfection system based on its BIO-SEA UV ballast water treatment with the aim of easily disinfecting surfaces against Covid-19. Its capabilities, performance and reliability are being verified independently in two CE-approved laboratories and if everything goes according to plan, this new system could be introduced to medical personnel and healthcare workers by the end of May.
The prototyped disinfection system is a 50 cm handheld device which emits a ray of UV-C which takes only seconds to disinfect the scanned surface. Therefore, this system could be used to disinfect hospital beds, tables, computer keyboards, furniture and other surfaces, protecting above all health workers and first responders from picking up the virus from infected surfaces.
Also BIO-UV Group subsidiary TRIOGEN is currently working on the development of a disinfection system for wet surfaces using ozone.
"We mobilised our R&D team to develop a system of disinfection for surfaces intended, as a priority, for all nursing staff. The objective of this development is to ensure people are working in safe, clean environments and to reassure those coming out of confinement. However, the technology has potential application in other sectors. At a later stage, the system will be marketed to other industrial sectors, including the maritime one, to help safeguard our seafarers from being infected. Marketing will go ahead once CE marking has been obtained," BIO-UV Group's founder and CEO Benoít Gillmann said.
"Since 6 April, progress has been made in the completion of a prototype, the performance of which is currently being tested in compliance with the strictest of international standards," further explained Gillmann. "The aim of this testing is to validate the system's capacity to disinfect and to eliminate all types of microorganisms using UV-C technology. Once this testing has been finalised, a second laboratory will work over the next few weeks on testing the efficacy of the system in eliminating Covid-19."