The youngest inventor in Limpopo invent Money Disinfector Machine
Ga-Mphahlele, Maijane
By: Palesa Makanyane
Daily hand sanitization is one way to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, but no one has mentioned the risk of the virus spreading through banknotes and coins. And it is for this reason that Rachuene Kgalema has created two amazing inventions that are about to change people’s lives.
The 19-year-old undergraduate student of Limpopo University has invented a “Money Disinfector”. The machine will be used to sterilize coins and banknotes using radiation heat (microwaves).
“The microwaves will be produced over a container by an electron tube called magnetron. Therefore, the microwave will be reflected within the interior of the container where they will be absorbed by the viruses and that will suffer and kill the virus. This is because the microwaves will cause hydrogen bond/peptide bonds to break since they are made of DNA and RNA. The molecules will vibrate since they are emitting heat,” he said.
Rachuene explained that most retails stores in South Africa handle up to a million Rand in cash every day which put a money counter in a risk of being infected by Covid-19. He said the condition is worsened by the fact that money is counted in a closed room with less ventilation
Rachuene from Ga-Mphahlele, Maijane invented his first invention in 2019 while he was in matric at Segopotje Secondary School. He says the motive behind the first invention is to purify and balance the Potential Hydrogen level of water from mining industry and other contaminated H2O.
This young man dreams to be well-known in South Africa as the youngest inventor from Limpopo University, therefore he is looking for a funder or a slot in or from the Department of Sciences and innovation so he could showcase his notions.
He wants to inspire the youth that even people from the rural areas have great minds. Although, Rachuene has encountered challenges in the process of the inventions, he still hopes that the government will come through for him.
