Rowan Professor Makes Hand Sanitizer In Coronavirus Battle

GLASSBORO, NJ — Most research at Rowan University has been shut down to the outbreak of new coronavirus, but one professor is using his to help the community.

Chemistry Professor Jim Grinias is using his lab and materials donated by the university to make hand sanitizer for medical professionals who are combating the virus, according to the university.

So far, he has made nearly 20 gallons of hand sanitizer, following a recipe and guidance issued by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“It seems like a lot, but I think it’s a drop in the bucket compared to what’s needed,” said Grinias. “Everyone needs to chip in and do what they can.”

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Labs across Rowan’s College of Science & Mathematics donated the ingredients needed to make the hand sanitizer, including ethanol, hydrogen peroxide and glycerol.

Academic labs have special licenses to buy 200-proof pure ethanol, sometimes used by chemists as a solvent for certain chemical reactions. Biology departments use it as a sanitizer.

“It’s a standard, routine chemical,” Grinias said. “Lots of chemistry departments have it on hand.”

Researchers also donated gallons of isopropyl rubbing alcohol and bleach that were distributed by the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management to hospitals, nursing homes and first responders.

“We cleared it out,” said Grinias, an assistant professor who teaches analytical chemistry. “We were able to find everything. It was all hands on deck.”

It was all hands on deck, but due to social distancing guidelines, the hands in the lab were that of Grinias and his wife, Kaitlin, an automation chemist who works in the pharmaceutical industry.

The couple spent six hours in the lab sterilizing instruments, boiling large flasks of purified water and mixing the chemicals. Thanks to the labs’ extra-strength ethanol, the recipe resulted in a compound containing about 80 percent alcohol, the main ingredient used to destroy viruses lurking on surfaces, according to the university.

They delivered the finished product to Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, where it will be made available for emergency use by Cooper University Health Care providers.

“Our clinical partner, Cooper University Health Care, is working hard to ensure they are fully prepared for the expected surge of patients with COVID-19 over the next few weeks,” Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Dr. Annette C. Reboli said. “I’m so proud that our Rowan community is stepping up to make sure that our clinical faculty, and all the health care providers at Cooper, have what they need to care for the patients of South Jersey.”

As of Monday afternoon, Gloucester County had conducted 1,662 tests. Of those tests 1,355 are negatives, 284 are positives and 23 are still pending. Statewide, there are 41,090 cases and 1,003 fatalities as of Monday afternoon.