The National Taiwan University yesterday announced the invention of an organic compound that it says can kill the SARS virus.
"We have not officially named the new compound. It is a powdery material that can dissolve in water," said C.K. Lee (李世光), a professor at the university's Institute of Applied Mechanics.
"When it is mixed with water, it can be spread on clothes, respirators and anything you want to help kill the SARS virus," Lee said.
Lee led a team convened by university president Chen Wei-jao (
Team members came from the university's College of Engineering, College of Public Health, College of Medicine and Commission on Research and Development, Tamkang University's Department of Chemistry and the Industrial Technology Research Institute's Materials Research Laboratory.
Lee said that testing of the new compound was completed on Sunday and a patent had already been acquired.
Tsai-li Co, a medical gear manufacturer, has signed a contract with the team to take advantage of the new technology in producing respirators and chemical protection suits.
The first 30,000 respirators impregnated with the compound will be available to doctors and nurses on Monday, the company said.
"All these respirators are useful for seven days. Each one will cost between NT$40 to NT$50 when they are put on sale," said Su Ching-lang (
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