Police install solar-powered disinfectant maker at Rs 70,000

Chennai

The brain behind the initiative, R Elango, is a former CSIR scientist and is also known for various reforms in his village, Kuthambakkam. “Varied brands of disinfectants are available in the market. But most of them are alcohol-based and not very effective considering how they are prepared. But the solar power plant uses sodium chloride to make sodium hypochlorite, the mother of all disinfectants, and it is more effective,” he said.

According to Elango, one litre of the solution could be mixed with 10 litres of water to be used as hand sanitisers and the water-solution ratio changes for various uses such as cleaning the floor or furniture. “We chose solar power to make the setup because it is cost-effective. All one has to do is add 800 grams of salt every day and the setup would run on forever. We chose the electrochemical method as the chemical method is not environment friendly,” he added.

Elango, who came up with this method after repeated experiments, approached Tiruvallur Collector and Superintendent Aravindhan, who immediately agreed to install the system in their respective offices. Also, a bigger setup, which would make 200 litres of sodium hypochlorite, has been installed at the temporary wholesale vegetable market at Tirumazhisai. “This would keep the place sterile for at least three hours,” said Elango.

Superintendent Aravindhan said that the solution would be supplied to all the police stations in the district once a week.