Novel Interchangeable Filter for Virus Filtration and Inactivation

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a filter for virus trapping and inactivation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have been used to reduce spread of the virus. However, masks have short lifetimes and suffer from poor breathability during strenuous activities. Purdue researchers have proposed a multi-layer mask design to repel saliva droplets and inactivate respiratory viruses. The outside layer of the mask is a hydrophobic and lipophobic layer that prevents saliva droplets from entering the mask. The internal layers include a hydrophobic-copper (Hy-Cu) filter coated with diamond-like carbon (DLC) to inactivate viruses and non-woven layers to capture small microdroplets. The Hy-Cu filter is highly breathable, offering 10% less air resistance compared to disposable masks and KN95 masks. The Hy-Cu filter has 90% filtering efficiency and 99% virus inactivation over a period of two hours.

Technology Validation: Testing results showed the Hy-Cu filter to be highly breathable and have higher filter efficiency and virus inactivation than the non-woven layer of disposable masks.

Advantages:

- Hy-Cu filter has higher filter efficiency and virus inactivation than the non-woven layer of disposable masks.

- Hy-Cu filter has higher breathability than disposable masks.

Applications:

- Hy-Cu filter can be adapted to existing face coverings.

TRL: 3

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: Biomedical Engineering, COVID-19, Disposable masks, Filter, Masks, Materials and Manufacturing, Respiratory viruses