New cloth mask kills 99.9 per cent bacteria, viruses in one hour of sunlight, says study
PTI, Nov 12, 2020, 5:54 PM IST
Los Angeles: Researchers have developed a reusable cotton face mask that they say can kill up to 99.99 per cent of bacteria and viruses within 60 minutes of daylight exposure.
Face masks made of various cloth materials can filter nanoscale aerosol particles — such as those released by a cough or sneeze — potentially helping to reduce the spread of diseases, including COVID-19.
However, live bacteria and viruses on the surface of the mask could still be contagious, according to the study published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
The researchers from the University of California, Davis in the US developed a new cotton fabric that would release reactive oxygen species (ROS) when exposed to daylight, killing microbes attached to the fabric’s surfaces while being washable, reusable and safe for the wearer.
A person could disinfect their cloth mask during their lunch hour outside in the sun, or by spending a longer period of time under office or building lights, which are much less intense than sunlight, they said.
The researchers made their antimicrobial fabrics by attaching positively charged chains of 2-diethylaminoethyl chloride (DEAE-Cl) to ordinary cotton.
They then dyed the modified cotton in a solution of a negatively charged photosensitizer — a compound that releases ROS upon exposure to light — which attached to the DEAE chains by strong electrostatic interactions.
The team found that a fabric made with a dye called rose Bengal as the photosensitiser killed 99.9999 per cent of bacteria added to the fabric within 60 minutes of daylight exposure and inactivated 99.9999 per cent of T7 bacteriophage — a virus thought to be more resistant to ROS than some coronaviruses — within 30 minutes.
Further testing showed that the material could be handwashed at least 10 times and constantly exposed to daylight for at least 7 days without losing its antimicrobial activity, the researchers said.
The fabric shows promise for making reusable, antibacterial/antiviral cloth face masks and protective suits, they said.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
BTS2024: If India can make rocket sensors, it can also make car sensors, says ISRO chief Somanath
World COPD Day: Know your lung function
SpaceX successfully launches ISRO’s 4,700 kg communication satellite from US
As AI and megaplatforms take over, the hyperlinks that built the web may face extinction
Plastic waste could double by 2050, researchers find, suggest policies to address issue
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Siddaramaiah says confident of winning all three bypolls in Karnataka
Hop on! IT Minister Priyank Kharge checks out Uber Shuttle at Bengaluru Tech Summit
Actress Kasthuri released from jail, says ‘I thank those who made me raging storm’
Kidnapped for ransom in 1998, 26/11 survivor Gautam Adani faces biggest trial
AIMPLB to hold its annual general sessions in Bengaluru from November 23
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.