A Sustainable Way to Decontaminate a Face Mask Using Household Materials

https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-153868629-1 window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag(‘js’, new Date()); gtag(‘config’, ‘UA-153868629-1’);

A study from the University of Bordeaux in France was published as a preprint at MedRxiv. As a caveat, this study is still in preprint and not yet peer-reviewed.

Entitled,  The properties of hot household hygroscopic materials and their potential use for non-medical facemask decontamination, the researchers found an elegant way to use inexpensive and reusable household materials to decontaminate disposable face masks for non- medical application.

Disposable face masks get expensive economically and environmentally in the long run.

To avoid the spread of COVID-19, the CDC has called for the use of face masks when entering public places in the United States.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been known to stay viable in face masks for 7 days. Wearing the same mask for several days increases the risk of infection, especially if they are not appropriately handled.

Cases of COVID-19 are still rising together with the increase in demand for any type of face mask. Which is why the price for disposable masks will not go down soon.

There is also an environmental cost of the face masks as they add to pollution, the presence of microfibers in the environment, and also pose a health hazard.

The many problems with decontaminating disposable face masks

Decontaminating disposable face masks in a microwave can melt the elastic material that goes behind the ears. The high heat can ignite the mask due to the presence of a metal strip that conforms to the nose.

Washing with soap and water or dipping the mask in isopropyl alcohol can reduce filtration efficiency by 21% and 37%.

How the study decontaminated the face masks

The materials are a microwave oven, 2 1-liter plastic containers, and 500 gms of short-cut pasta. Rice, corn or wheat grains are also suggested

1. Put 250 gms of short cut pasta in each 1-liter plastic containers
2. Heat both containers in the microwave oven for 2 minutes.
3. Take out both containers from the microwave oven.
4. Put a mask in one of the containers on top of the pasta.
5. Put the rest of the pasta from the other container on top of the mask and close the container.  Just like making a face mask sandwich
6. Cover the container for 15 to 20 minutes. There is no need to put the container again in the microwave.

The science behind the process

Heat and humidity are involved in this process.

Pasta, rice, corn, and wheat grains attract water in the environment. A physical property called hygroscopy.  During the heating process in the microwave oven, the water stored in those hygroscopic materials are evaporated and is released inside the plastic container.

The addition of more heated pasta on top of the face masks adds more heat and humidity to kill the viruses.

Does it work?

Part of their study is adding SARS-CoV-2 viruses in the face masks before exposing them to the high heat and humidity.

After exposure, they tested for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 on culture cells for up to 9 days, and no viruses grew. In contrast, the face masks that were not exposed to high heat and humidity still showed viable viruses that can even kill culture cells.  No RNA or the nucleic acid of the SARS-CoV-2 was detected in the treated group. That process shows the effectiveness of the procedure.  

No toxic products were released during the treatment, according to the study.

Added bonus: The materials are recyclable

After the decontamination process, the pasta was again exposed to the environment. Being hygroscopic, it attracted water back from the air, and thus it can be reused for more decontamination.

In the same research, the pasta was used and tested for the third time and continued to show its effectiveness in killing SARS-CoV-2.

Limitation of the study

It would have been better if the study included a test for the filtration efficiency of the decontaminated face masks after the procedure. That may be the reason why they limit the use of this decontamination procedure to masks for non-medical use.

So there. An inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to protect yourself in this COVID-19 pandemic.

Knowledge about Covid-19 is rapidly evolving. Information may update as new researches are done. Stay current by subscribing.

Don’t Get Sick!

Related readings:

1. How Far Can a Sneeze Go?

2. Covid-19 Spread with Air-conditioning

3. Study Explains the Silent Spread of Covid-19

4. Will the Pandemic get Better with Warm Weather?

5. The Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Covid-19 are Equally Infectious

6. Can Talking Spread Viruses?

7. SARS-CoV-2 Contamination in the Hospital Setting

8. How Long Can the Covid-19 Virus Survive in Common Surfaces?

9. SARS-CoV-2 Contamination in the Hospital Setting

10. How Long does the Covid-19 Virus Float in the Air and Stay on Surface?

Reference:

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.