High-quality and easy-to-regenerate personal filter

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Public Health
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Traditional N95 (FFP2) respirators pose financial and ecological burdens due to limited regeneration and variable quality.
• Effective respiratory tract protection is crucial for limiting COVID-19 spread and ensuring healthcare worker safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a reusable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional respirators.
• To evaluate the filtration efficiency and pressure drop of novel polyester fleece-based respiratory filters.

Main Methods:

• Prepared 25 filters using knit polyester fleece fabric with varying areas and thicknesses.
• Evaluated size-resolved filtration efficiency (40-400 nm) and pressure drop at 95 L/min.
• Assessed filter reusability and regeneration methods (e.g., boiling).

Main Results:

• A filter cartridge (8 layers, 900 cm² surface area) achieved 98% filtration efficiency at 95 L/min and 99.5% at 30 L/min.
• The complete filter kit had a total pressure drop of 84 Pa at 95 L/min.
• The polyester fleece filter material demonstrated reusability for at least ten regeneration cycles.

Conclusions:

• A novel approach for high-quality, breathable respiratory protective equipment was demonstrated.
• The developed filters offer reduced operating costs and are a green solution due to easy regeneration.
• This innovation provides a sustainable alternative to disposable respirators for enhanced respiratory protection.