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Development of a desktop mask charger
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Researchers developed a desktop device using a Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplier to restore electrostatic charges on polypropylene mesh in surgical masks, recovering filtration efficiency from 87% to 97% within one minute. The device addresses charge loss caused by moisture exposure during COVID-19 mask use, potentially enabling safer mask reuse and reducing plastic waste.
Polypropylene mesh, integrated in N95 respirators and surgical masks that are widely used in the current crisis of COVID-19, filters aerosols via electrostatics in addition to the physical block. However, any contact to water such as storage under high humidity, exposure to exhaling breath, and washing in water removes its charges and thus compromises its filtering efficiency. We developed a desk top device based on a Cockcroft-Walton's voltage multiplier that can restore the electrostatic charge of surgical masks within 1 min and recover the filtering efficiency of the polypropylene mesh from 87% to 97%. The device is easy to operate and safe, thus may be applied for the reuse of surgical masks towards reducing the plastic wastes.
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Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.