Sterilization of polypropylene membranes of facepiece respirators by ionizing radiation

Pirker, Luka (author), Pogačnik Krajnc, Anja (author), Malec, Jan (author), Radulović, Vladimir (author), Gradišek, Anton (author), Jelen, Andreja (author), Remškar, Maja (author), Mekjavić, Igor B. (author), Kovač, Janez (author), Mozetič, Miran (author), Snoj, Luka (author)

Ionizing radiation has been identified as an option for sterilization of disposable filtering facepiece respirators in situations where the production of the respirators cannot keep up with demand. Gamma radiation and high energy electrons penetrate deeply into the material and can be used to sterilize large batches of masks within a short time period. In relation to reports that sterilization by ionizing radiation reduces filtration efficiency of polypropylene membrane filters on account of static charge loss, we have demonstrated that both gamma and electron beam irradiation can be used for sterilization, provided that the respirators are recharged afterwards.

• Language: English
• Keywords: personal protection equipment, respirators, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, sterilization, ionizing radiation, polypropylen membrane
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FMF - Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 7 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 619, art. 118756
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-124023
• UDC: 539.1
• ISSN on article: 0376-7388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118756
• COBISS.SI-ID: 32105219
• Publication date in RUL: 21.12.2020

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of membrane science
• Shortened title: J. membr. sci.
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0376-7388
• COBISS.SI-ID: 11540487

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.
• Licensing start date: 21.12.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: jedrska fizika, ionizirajoče sevanje, osebna zaščitna oprema, respiratorji, sterilizacija, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, polipropilenska membrana