The scientist, Peter Tsai created the protective technology that is used in the N95 mask. He has come out of retirement to help researchers develop solutions on sanitising and reusing the product especially in this pandemic. One of the most important pieces of the personal protective equipment needed has been running low during the outbreak that has infected more than 4 million people in the world.
Tsai, a material science and engineering professor received a patent of a key filtration technology for the N95 mask back in 1995. According to Tsai’s longtime employer, the University of Tennessee, the fabric that the scientist created has revolutionized non-woven fabrics in the virus protection technology. Today, he is researching ways to disinfect the masks in order for it to be reused without creating damage to the properties that protect all the users from the virus.
Hospitals and healthcare workers have been reporting shortage of medical supplies needed in order for them to protect themselves, and N95 masks along with ventilators are on the top of that list.
A research group called N95DECON has already volunteered to look for solutions in order to decontaminate the masks for further reuse. Tsai spoke to NPR’s Morning Edition and said that these researchers reached our to him for advice on the product he created.
N95DECON has made leaps and bounds on their research saying they have discovered “promising” methods that entail humidity, vapor, hydrogen peroxide and UV-C radiation in sanitising masks without corrupting their protective properties. Their research has also concluded that water and soap, bleach, alcohol and overnight storage “compromises N95 filtration efficiency.”
Tsai told Morning Edition:
“I just want to help people, and just do my job. The front-line hospital workers — they are heroes. I’m just trying to help them to wear the mask.”
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