A small Wichita, Kansas based company that got its start making aluminum nitride products used to address problems in electronics is developing technology and making products to combat air-borne pathogens – notably SARS-CoV-2. Nitride Solutions just landed a Phase I STTR grant from the Department of Defense, Air Force, for $149,335 to develop UV-C LED arrays to disinfect air in HVAC units.
Jeremy Jones, Nitride Solutions CEO
“The contract is to design a module that can go into a room or a shelter or pretty much any self-contained place that would trap and sterilize the SARS Covid 2 virus,” president and CEO Jeremy Jones told the 4thEst8. “What we bring to the table are a strong partnership with MRI Global to do the testing of this unit in Kansas City, and with Tech UV, a Kansas firm that’s a spin-out from a large HVAC company.”
Not that the move is a new thing for the company – it landed a Phase I SBIR grant for $149,395 back in 2012 to develop high quality and low cost bulk aluminum nitride substrates for UV LED’s – and that grant application mentions how high efficiency UV LED’s will have a broad range of applications including a “low cost, and chemical free method to disinfect water for human consumption.” The company secured three patents along those lines in 2013.
According to Chrunchbase, Nitride Solutions has raised a total of $8 million in funding, most recently a $2.75 milllion round in May of 2017 led by Leawood Venture Capital and Nelnet. Other investors include Johnson Venture Partners, Aurora UV, Mid-America Angels, Nebraska Angel Network, and SeedStep Angels. The Wichita, Kansas based company was founded in 2009 and has nine full time employees.
MRI Global
A Kansas City research institution founded in 1944 by area business leaders to support industry, provide jobs, and advance scientific knowledge.
Tech UV
An HVAC company and research partner using patented plasma-cluster and ultraviolet technologies, as well as monitoring and testing equipment, for commercial and residential air quality. Founder Dave Ogle presented to 1 Million Cups – Lawrence in October 2020, shortly after starting his company.
Links:
1 Million Cups – Lawrence (Tech UV)
