KUALA LUMPUR: As part of its effort to combat Covid-19, Universiti Putra Malaysia's (UPM) Department of Chemistry from the Science Faculty has produced hand sanitisers and refills.
This project, initiated to help frontliners, saw a total of 1,255 litres of hand sanitisers in 8,500 bottles (80ml) and 575 litres of refills for 15,000 bottles produced.
Project leader Dr Nadiah Mad Nasir said the product complied with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard which is 75 per cent isopropyl alcohol as the main active ingredient and glycerol as emollient.
The senior lecturer at the Science Faculty also said two chemistry teaching laboratories were used for production and the process was done in accordance with the stipulated safety procedures.
Nadiah added that the hand sanitisers would be distributed free to the University's Health Centre, the UPM teaching hospital and the campus essential services.
She said it would also be distributed to UPM students, B40 residents around Serdang, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, Klang, Kuala Lumpur and several Covid-19 red zone areas.
"The project has two phases, the first phase was with the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) while the second phase received funding from several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Surau Al-Ansar in Taman Suria Tropika and the Islamic Banking and Finance Institute Malaysia (IBFIM)," she said.
Meanwhile, UPM Science Faculty dean Prof Dr Mohd Basyaruuddin Abdul Rahman said although hand sanitisers were needed in various sectors especially for frontliners, the supplies were limited and there was a significant increase in cost due to high demand.