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제 13 호 Technology Related to Mask Environmental Pollution

  • 작성일 2022-03-02
  • 좋아요 Like 1
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Kicker: SCIENCE (Technology)


Technology Related to Mask Environmental Pollution



By Seo-Won Hong, Reporter

eunoia1025@naver.com


  Masks have become a necessity for people around the world to prevent COVID-19. As face masks are used continuously, the mask trash increases around the world. A report released by a Hong-Kong-based marine conservation organization said that they estimated about 1.56 billion face masks flowed into oceans in 2020. Most masks are made of plastic. Polypropylene, the main component of the mask, generates harmful substances such as carbon monoxide and dioxin while burning. These substances are causing environmental pollution, taking more than 450 years to completely rot away. Accordingly, the concept of mask recycling and the need to replace disposable masks are emerging. Currently, research on mask recycling is being conducted worldwide to prevent environmental pollution caused by masks. Through this article, I’m going to introduce the development situation and commercialization possibility of recycling mask research in foreign countries and here in Korea.



N95 mask-disinfection technology developed by researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) in the United States


  Ying Zhong, a researcher in USF’s Green Research for Energy-Efficient innovations lab, and Libin Ye, researcher and cellular molecular biology professor, created a team of five graduate students. Researchers conducted experiments to develop a new type of sterilization technology to combat pathogenic viruses. The research team announced in the journal Environment Science & Technology that it has developed a disinfection technology that can restore the filtering function of the N95 mask to its original state. 


  The N95 mask refers to a respiratory protector that filters 0.3 μm fine particles floating in the air at more than 95% although they are not resistant to oil components. The N95 mask is called Surgical N95 Respirator in the United States. Products that pass the same standards as N95 are being used at quarantine sites and for medical staff around the world.


  Researchers developed a new type of sterilization technology using the corona discharge (CD) effect. This technology works by simultaneously deactivating the pathogen of the mask and restoring static electricity. This technology does not generate heat, so additional heating and chemicals are not required. So it can be used safely and conveniently. It is a low-power consumption technology that is reusable, safer than ultraviolet (UV), and requires only 1.25 W of electricity.


  The patented technology is key to destroying DNA with electric fields and ions made of corona discharge (CD). The Corona Discharge is an electrical discharge caused by the ionization of fluids. The patented technology of this research team features neutralizing pathogens and viruses attached to masks by transforming proteins.


  The research team said it has proven a technology that can maintain about 95% of the original filtration efficiency even after 15 disinfection times, and can be recycled at least 10 times with high safety.


Effect and possibility of commercialization

  The research team said that the technology could reduce the demand for masks from hundreds per person per year to dozens. This is expected to solve not only environmental pollution caused by quarantine masks, but also the lack of mask supply in low-income countries. Zhong said, We will be able to reduce mask usage by 90% per person,. In addition, Assuming that 10% of the world's population uses this technology, we will reduce mask waste by 4 billion to 5 billion. The research team explained that this alleviates environmental shocks by reducing the use of chemicals for masks along with more than 24 million tons of plastic pollutants.


The nano filter mask developed by KAIST

  Professor Kim Do-hyun's research team at KAIST has developed a technology for mass production of nano filter masks. The nano filter mask can be used for more than a month because its performance is maintained even after being washed dozens of times. Existing mask filters use static electricity to catch fine foreign substances. For this reason, it is very vulnerable to moisture and cannot be reused if disinfected with ethanol or washed with water. On the other hand, a very thin polymer nanofiber-based filter developed by KAIST researchers is the principle of closely overlapping nanofibers, which are 1/10 as thick as existing filters. It filters out foreign substances, and its filter performance is maintained even after washing.

  However, in order to make very thin fibers, a high voltage of tens of kilobolts is required, and the production speed per hour is only up to 1g. In other words, there is a limitation in that it is difficult to mass-produce nano filter masks. To compensate for this, the research team developed a centrifugal radiation disk system that rotates and discharges polymer solutions. They made the disk into three layers, dramatically increasing the production speed of nanofiber filters. In addition, the research team succeeded in producing 25g of nanofibers with a thickness of 500nm (nanometer, 1 millionth of a millimeter), which is about one-hundredth of the thickness of hair per hour. This is an amount equivalent to 30 KF94 mask filters, which is about 30 times the production of existing electrospinning processes. The filter developed by the research team can completely block saliva droplets and has a blocking efficiency of KF80 or higher depending on the amount of fiber used.



  Interest in environmental pollution caused by masks is increasing, and various technologies are being developed worldwide to solve this problem. If these technologies are commercialized as soon as possible, it will be possible to reduce major environmental pollution caused by masks in the current situation of living with COVID-19. We will be able to develop an interest in environmental pollution we can think of in our daily lives, such as masks.


Sources: 

https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20211006074100009

http://www.newsje.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=245460

https://n.news.naver.com/article/056/0011133331

https://blog.naver.com/slcdream/221883007809

https://www.usforacle.com/2021/10/21/usf-researchers-develop-n95-mask-disinfection-technology/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkA-_Ek5iA4

https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20210322140300063