2020, Volume 6, Issue 10
Engineering >> 2020, Volume 6, Issue 10 doi: 10.1016/j.eng.2020.05.016
Can Masks Be Reused After Hot Water Decontamination During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
a State Key Laboratory of Organic–Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
b Beijing Municipal Institute of Labour Protection, Beijing 100054, China
c Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing, Beijing 101111, China
Next Previous
Abstract
Masks have become one of the most indispensable pieces of personal protective equipment and are important strategic products during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Due to the huge mask demand–supply gap all over the world, the development of user-friendly technologies and methods is urgently needed to effectively extend the service time of masks. In this article, we report a very simple approach for the decontamination of masks for multiple reuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Used masks were soaked in hot water at a temperature greater than 56 °C for 30 min, based on a recommended method to kill COVID-19 virus by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. The masks were then dried using an ordinary household hair dryer to recharge the masks with electrostatic charge to recover their filtration function (the so-called "hot water decontamination + charge regeneration" method). Three kinds of typical masks (disposable medical masks, surgical masks, and KN95-grade masks) were treated and tested. The filtration efficiencies of the regenerated masks were almost maintained and met the requirements of the respective standards. These findings should have important implications for the reuse of polypropylene masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The performance evolution of masks during human wear was further studied, and a company (Zhejiang Runtu Co., Ltd.) applied this method to enable their workers to extend the use of masks. Mask use at the company was reduced from one mask per day per person to one mask every three days per person, and 122 500 masks were saved during the period from 20 February to 30 March 2020. Furthermore, a new method for detection of faulty masks based on the penetrant inspection of fluorescent nanoparticles was established, which may provide scientific guidance and technical methods for the future development of reusable masks, structural optimization, and the formulation of comprehensive performance evaluation standards.
Keywords
Masks ; Reusable ; COVID-19 ; Decontamination ; Green development concept
Figures
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
References
[ 1 ] [How is the COVID-19 going?] [video]. Beijing: China Central Television; 2020 Jan 20 [cited 2020 May 1]. Available from: http://tv.cctv.com/2020/01/20/ VIDECRZF7PWXb80z86QyB0db200120.shtml. Chinese. link1
[ 2 ] Qu T, Wang BY. [The National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China suggested wearing a mask to promote ‘‘mask civilization”] [Internet]. Beijing: XinhuaNet; 2020 Jan 22 [cited 2020 May 1]. Available from: http:// www.xinhuanet.com/2020-01/22/c_1125493839.htm. Chinese. link1
[ 3 ] [Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council: technical guidance on the selection and use of masks for different population to prevent novel coronavirus] [Internet]. Beijing: Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council in Response to the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia; 2020 Feb 4 [cited 2020 May 1]. Available from: http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2020- 02/05/content_5474774.htm. Chinese. link1
[ 4 ] Cheng W. [Can’t buy mask? It can be reused after regeneration treatment!] [Internet]. Beijing: ScienceNet; 2020 Feb 14 [cited 2020 May 1]. Available from: http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2020/2/435754.shtm. Chinese. link1
[ 5 ] National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. [Prevention and control program of COVID-19 (4th edition)]. Beijing: General Office of National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China; 2020 Feb 6 [cited 2020 May 1]. Available from: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/jkj/s3577/202002/573340613 ab243b3a7f61df260551dd4/files/c791e5a7ea5149f680fdcb34dac0f54e.pdf. Chinese. link1
[ 6 ] Wang D, Wang Z, Zhan Q, Pu Y, Wang JX, Foster NR, et al. Facile and scalable preparation of fluorescent carbon dots for multifunctional applications. Engineering 2017;3(3):402–8. link1
[ 7 ] Cheng W. [Technology of reuse of masks helps to fight against virus] [Internet]. Beijing: ScienceNet; 2020 Apr 28 [cited 2020 May 1]. Available from: http:// news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2020/4/439043.shtm. Chinese. link1
[ 8 ] Liu Y. Charge regeneration to make full use of each mask [Internet]. Beijing: Science and Technology Daily; 2020 Apr 29 [cited 2020 May 1]. Available from: http://digitalpaper.stdaily.com/http_www.kjrb.com/kjrb/html/2020-04/29/ content_444079.htm. Chinese. link1
[ 9 ] Feng S, Shen C, Xia N, Song W, Fan M, Cowling BJ. Rational use of face masks in the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Respir Med 2020;8(5):434–6. link1
[10] Leung NHL, Chu DKW, Shiu EYC, Chan KH, McDevitt JJ, Hau BJP, et al. Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks. Nat Med 2020;26:676–80. link1
[11] Mackenzie D. Reuse of N95 Masks. Engineering 2020;6(6):593–6.
[12] Liao L, Xiao W, Zhao M, Yu X, Wang H, Wang Q, et al. Can N95 respirators be reused after disinfection? How many times? ACS Nano 2020;14(5): 6348–56. link1
[13] Zhang Z, Xing Y. New reusable face masks in production [Internet]. Beijing: China Daily; 2020 Mar 2 [cited 2020 May 1]. Available from: https://www. chinadailyhk.com/article/122864. link1
京公网安备 11010502051620号
