Jang Eun Suk, Kang Chun Won
Department of Housing Environmental Design, and Research Institute of Human Ecology, College of Human Ecology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
R&D Center, Sambo Scientific Co., Ltd. Seoul, Korea.
Infect Chemother. 2020 Dec;52(4):583-591. doi: 10.3947/ic.2020.52.4.583. Epub 2020 Nov 3.
Due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), world-wide face mask use is increasing exponentially. These face masks are difficult to recycle, and their accumulation contributes to enormous environmental threats. In this study, we hypothesize that the face mask can be reused as long as it retains its original structure, which will slow the environmental impacts.
We selected common disposable surgical masks for this study and classified test conditions based on wear time and reuse method. After wearing the mask for 10 hours, we let it dry naturally in the shade for 14 hours. The specimens were measured by scanning electron microscope and capillary flow porometer.
The pore structure of the mask did not change when worn 4 times for 10 hours each time, and there was no significant pore structure change when impregnated with ethyl alcohol (purity 95%), treated with UV or steam, or run through a washing machine.
The pore structure of the surgical mask was not changed significantly after 40 hours of use. Surgical mask pore structure did not change significantly after treatment with ethyl alcohol, UV light, steam, or a washing machine.
由于2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19），全球口罩使用量呈指数级增长。这些口罩难以回收利用，其堆积对环境构成巨大威胁。在本研究中，我们假设只要口罩保持其原始结构就可以重复使用，这将减缓对环境的影响。
我们选择了普通一次性医用口罩进行本研究，并根据佩戴时间和重复使用方法对测试条件进行分类。口罩佩戴10小时后，在阴凉处自然晾干14小时。通过扫描电子显微镜和毛细流动孔径仪对样本进行测量。
每次佩戴10小时，佩戴4次后口罩的孔隙结构没有变化，用乙醇（纯度95%）浸渍、紫外线或蒸汽处理或通过洗衣机洗涤后，孔隙结构也没有显著变化。
使用40小时后，医用口罩的孔隙结构没有明显变化。经乙醇、紫外线、蒸汽处理或通过洗衣机洗涤后，医用口罩的孔隙结构没有显著变化。
