Engineers at Beijing-based China Electronics Technology Group have developed a cutting-edge air disinfector capable of neutralizing more than 10 kinds of pathogenic bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

The product has been endorsed by a group of medical experts and virologists including some academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who acknowledged its technology, capability and effectiveness, according to the State-owned electronics conglomerate.

Peng Ke, one of the chief designers, said on Friday that more than 100,000 units of the new product have been transported to Zhangjiakou in Hebei province, one of the host regions of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, and are being used at public venues.

In addition, government buildings, hospitals, railway stations and other crowded venues in densely populated cities such as Beijing, Chongqing and Chengdu have also deployed the disinfectors, he said.

"Its core component is an active particle generator that makes use of water molecules and oxygen in the air to produce negative oxygen ions, hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals,"Peng explained. "These particles are then carried away by water molecules after being discharged from the disinfector and then can effectively react with hydrogen ions inside bacteria and viruses, disabling those pathogens."

Tests by designers and disease control specialists showed that the device is able to eradicate almost all novel coronavirus pathogens within its effective working radius in just 15 minutes, he said, stressing that it is absolutely safe for humans and animals.

"Compared with other disinfection methods such as chemical agents and ultraviolet lamps, our product features zero health hazards, faster disinfecting processes, higher effectiveness and longer operating times. It is easy to use, requires no further costs and is suitable for indoor venues with many people," the engineer said.

Product managers said they have received 13 patents on technologies and techniques created during the development process.

Cao Liangcai, a professor at the Department of Precision Instruments at Tsinghua University, said that experts taking part in the device's peer review "are very optimistic" about the product's application and they believe it will be popular in the market.

Peng said that engineers are designing smaller disinfectors that can be used at home or in cars.