Effectiveness of Different Cellulose-Based Filtration Materials against Inhalation of SARS-CoV-2-Like Particles

Alyne R De Araújo,Lívio C C Nunes,Maria G F M Carvalho,Patricia Severino,Eliana B Souto,Gildário D Lima,Karla C B F Oliveira,Juliana C Cardoso,Monica F L R Soares

doi:10.3390/nanomanufacturing1020006

Abstract

The respiratory protection equipment (RPE) used by health professionals consists of an essential device to prevent infectious diseases, especially those caused by biological agents such as the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The current epidemiological panorama is worrying, and the context of creation and production of the mask has emerged as an alternative to RPE to face the public health crisis worldwide. The aim of this work is to present a low-cost alternative as an FFP2-like filter for a reusable respirator face mask. This study presents the comparison of different cellulose-based filtering materials performed by retention testing, time saturation testing, aerosol penetration testing, nanoparticle (~140 nm) filtration testing, bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE), analysis of material morphology and usability. The reusable respirator face mask used in this study is an open-source innovation, using 3D printing. Cotton disc proved to be the best filter material for the reusable mask, with satisfactory results and a performance similar to that shown by the N95-type mask. The cotton disc ensured effectiveness over 6 h of use, and after that, the reusable respirator face mask (here, Delfi-TRON®) needed to be sanitized and replenished with a new cotton disc. Upon preliminary analyses of filtration efficiency, the selected filter was shown to be a low-cost biodegradable and biocompatible alternative.

Highlights

The respiratory protection equipment (RPE) used by healthcare workers consists of an essential device to prevent infectious diseases, especially those caused by biological agents such as the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) [1,2]
The saturation test showed that the period of time of alternative materials was shorter compared to the surgical mask and N95 respirator
We studied bilayer filters, such as qualitative filter paper and cotton disc, showing a result of 99.5% for total retention, being superior to isolated materials and commercial masks, this result was already expected according to the literature, which shows that increasing the number of layers in the masks improves their performance [19]

Summary

Introduction

The respiratory protection equipment (RPE) used by healthcare workers consists of an essential device to prevent infectious diseases, especially those caused by biological agents such as the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) [1,2]. The use of RPE is a standard practice and is based on the idea of creating a physical barrier close to the nose and mouth, preventing the spread of viral particles by infected people and protecting the healthy population [3]. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a viral respiratory infection transmitted from human to human who, after close contact, spread viral particles when breathing, talking, Nanomanufacturing 2021, 1, 57–66. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a viral respiratory infection transmitted from human to human who, after close contact, spread viral particles when breathing, talking, coughing or sneezing via droplets coughing droplets and andaerosols aerosols[5]. Respiratory and and facial facial protection protection are are necessary necessary for microorganisms especially that are areusually usuallytransmitted transmittedvia viathe theairborne airborneroute route droplets and require filtration that oror viavia droplets and require filtration of of inhaled contaminated air [7].

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Conclusion