Issue 10, 2021

Nano-dry-salt deposition on electret nonwoven confers anticoronaviral effect while retaining aerosol filtration performance

Abstract

Safe-by-design concepts for anticoronaviral functions are important in the production of air filters, face masks, and touch substrates because these interventions may be effective in allowing continued socioeconomic activity and alleviation of the global recession. Recent attempts to provide anticoronaviral functions have involved alternative compositions and architectures aimed at producing nanoscale compounds for highly effective anticoronaviral activities. However, translating the nanocompounds to the field requires considerable investment and time as well as actual trials; thus, they may not be a viable option for timely deployment during the COVID-19 pandemic. With these considerations in mind, we have used sodium chloride, which is generally recognized as safe (GRAS), to functionalize nonwoven sheets as frequently touched surfaces. Specifically, we produced nano-dry-salt (NDS) particles through Collison-type atomization and subsequent diffusion drying, and these NDS particles were finally deposited on electret meltblown nonwovens in a single-pass air flow. The resulting GRAS NDS deposited electret nonwovens were examined for effectiveness in anticoronaviral function and aerosol filtration with pressure drop. The treated nonwovens exhibited significant inactivation of airborne human coronaviruses (surrogates of SARS-CoV-2) while retaining the original filtration performance, even under saliva droplet and dust exposures. Several realizable platforms can thus be presented to quickly incorporate NDS deposition in conventional nonwoven production.

Graphical abstract: Nano-dry-salt deposition on electret nonwoven confers anticoronaviral effect while retaining aerosol filtration performance

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
19 apr 2021
Accepted
23 avq 2021
First published
24 avq 2021

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2021,8, 2780-2791

Nano-dry-salt deposition on electret nonwoven confers anticoronaviral effect while retaining aerosol filtration performance

D. H. Park, J. Choi, A. Piri, J. Hwang and J. H. Byeon, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2021, 8, 2780 DOI: 10.1039/D1EN00369K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements