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7073 |
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Thursday, May 05, 2022, Hall G2 2:40 PM Medical Industry |
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Face masks filters with copper embedded particles effectiveness against covid virus |
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Larry Pershin* / University of Toronto, Canada Mohini Sain / University of Toronto, Canada Maurice Ringuette/ University of Toronto, Canada Javad Mostaghimi/ University of Toronto, Canada |
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Wire arc spraying was used to embed facemasks filters with viricidal levels of copper particles without compromising the substrate. The substrate used in the filters was a cross-waved fibre from softwood. For wire arc spraying wires in 1.6 and 0.9 mm diameter were used. The coated samples had different copper loads, when particles covered the samples surface at 38 and 17% of a total area. Two types of viricidal tests were performed to establish the efficacy of the filters with embedded copper particles. For preliminary studies a suspension of lambda-bacteriophage was used as a virus surrogate. After 10 min exposure to copper coated fabrics drastic (log 7) reduction was observed, regardless of the surface copper coverage. The human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) also was used for testing. The virus was exposed to the fabric for 15 minutes and then assayed to determine a reduction in viral load. The copper embedded fabric provides a greater than 3-log reduction in viral load within 15 min. exposure time. Filters with embedded copper particles demonstrated strong virucidal activity. This method is highly effective at eliminating viral challenges in 15 minutes or less. Biodegradable and renewable fabric was used as the filters substrate. Long washing cycle has no effect on the filter virucidal efficacy. These copper face-masks also have the added benefit protecting health care workers, patients and the public from all other microbial pathogens. |