Development of a UV-C Disinfection Chamber for Coronavirus Elimination

Abstract

            The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the health of the Thai population, with some individuals experiencing prolonged symptoms post-infection. The use of UV-C light can be applied to clean medical equipment after use, especially for devices that have limitations regarding heat and moisture during steam sterilization, which could otherwise cause damage to certain types of equipment.
               This study aimed to develop a sterilization chamber and evaluate its effectiveness in eliminating the coronavirus from medical equipment using ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation. The chamber is constructed from transparent acrylic, measuring 32.60 cm in width, 33.60 cm in height, and 27.60 cm in depth. It is equipped with a 6-watt UV-C lamp. To evaluate its efficacy, radiation levels were measured at five positions within the chamber, including the collection of samples for screening from medical devices.
            The results showed UV-C radiation measurements of 266.60, 268.30, 270.30, 273 and 276.10, all within the 245 - 285 nm wavelength range, at an intensity of 260 W/cm², with a distance of 11.96 cm from the source. The usage time was 21 seconds, and the results were negative, indicating no detection of the coronavirus.
            In conclusion, this study validates the UV-C wavelength range of 245 - 285 nm as an effective standard for virus inactivation. The UV-C sterilization chamber developed in this study effectively inactivates coronavirus, an RNA-structured virus, and can also be used against other microorganisms, including various viruses, bacteria, and fungi, when operated within this UV-C wavelength range.