UP Baguio begins ethyl alcohol production

April 12, 2020 Community Billboard

BAGUIO CITY — Alumni, faculty members, and research assistants of the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) has launched a production team and started producing 70% ethyl alcohol in the institution’s laboratories in line with its COVID-19 response efforts.

In a post on UPB’s social media page, the institution said that the alcohol production was initially motivated by the university’s own need to disinfect personal protective equipment (PPE) fabricated through the UPB Task Force PPE.

Alcohol production commenced immediately after the source of needed materials was determined, and the capacity of existing facilities was ensured, as well as the convening of the work force for the production team, the post stated.

The production team is composed of Chemistry faculty Ofelia Giron, PhD and Reymark Ereje; College of Science staff Joeran Valdez; and Biology alumni and research assistants Donna Castro, Jen Manglinong, and Bea Palaganas.

The production team has produced 10 liters of 70% Ethyl Alcohol (EtOH) on its first day of production Tuesday, April 7, 2020. The team is currently producing more as the UPB administration seeks to help address the need for disinfection solutions, especially of public healthcare facilities in the locality, the post stated.

To date, 37 liters of 70% EtOH had been produced in the UPB laboratory.

Merriam del Rosario/ABN