Developing a novel filter material for protective gears for health care (COVID-19) from modified BCTMP (Bleached Chemi-Thermo-Mechanical Pulp)

利用改性 BCTMP（漂白化学热机械浆）开发一种用于医疗保健防护装备 (COVID-19) 的新型过滤材料

• 批准号: 554561-2020
• 负责人: Gupta, Rajender
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=704790
• 关键词: Developing; novel; filter; material; protective

The corona virus disease pandemic (COVID-19) has demonstrated the acute shortage of medical-grade personal protective equipment (PPE) for everyone to avoid the spread, in particular, for health care workers on the frontline from getting infected with the virus. The use of PPE is a must to avoid infection and spread of pandemic from airborne liquid droplets and particles carrying bacteria or viruses. A particular standard for these protective gears such as masks are essential for healthcare providers according to the World Health Organization guideline. Many airlines, grocery stores now mandatorily require customers to wear masks to ensure safety and curb the spread of COVID-19. Medical masks help block large-particle droplets, sprays from sneezes and coughing containing germs/viruses. A surgical mask may block large-particle droplets; however, its ability to capture sub-micron particles is limited. Therefore, it may not provide complete protection from germs and other contaminants. The N95 respirator and surgical masks are used to protect the wearer from airborne particles and liquid droplets. It blocks at least 95 % of 0.3 micron particles. Surgical masks are made from different filter materials, which affect how easily one can breathe through and its ability to protect from contaminants. The material used to manufacture surgical face masks are polypropylene using spunbond technology and non-woven sheet made using meltblown technology. These process technologies are time-consuming and cumbersome to set-up. Thus, a search for an alternative material is very important. Miller Western Forest Products (MWFP), the industry partner for the project, produces paper pulp using using chemicals, thermal and mechanical process (BCTMP).The main objective of this collaborative research proposal with MWFP is to assess and modify the properties of BCTMP and from there to develop a novel composite material to meet the quality required to manufacture protective coverings for face and related health care products.

Corona病毒疾病大流行（Covid-19）证明了医学级的个人保护设备（PPE）的急性短缺，以避免散布，特别是对于前线的医疗保健工作者而避免感染该病毒。 PPE的使用是必须避免从空气中的液滴和携带细菌或病毒的颗粒中感染和扩散的。根据世界卫生组织的指南，这些防护装备（例如口罩）的特殊标准对于医疗保健提供者至关重要。现在，许多航空公司，杂货店都要求顾客戴口罩以确保安全并遏制Covid-19的传播。 医疗口罩有助于阻塞大颗粒液滴，喷出的喷雾剂和含有细菌/病毒的咳嗽。手术面膜可能会阻止大粒子液滴；但是，其捕获亚微米颗粒的能力受到限制。因此，它可能不能完全保护细菌和其他污染物。 N95呼吸器和手术口罩用于保护佩戴者免受空气寄生颗粒和液滴的侵害。它阻止了至少95％的0.3微米颗粒。手术面膜由不同的过滤材料制成，这会影响人们可以轻松呼吸的程度以及保护污染物的能力。用于制造手术面膜的材料是使用Spunbond技术和使用熔体技术制造的非织纸的聚丙烯。这些过程技术既耗时又繁琐。因此，寻找替代材料非常重要。 该项目的行业合作伙伴Miller Western Forest Products（MWFP）生产使用化学药品，热和机械工艺（BCTMP）的纸浆。与MWFP合作研究建议的主要目的是评估和修改BCTMP的特性，并从那里以及从那里开发用于制造面部保护和相关医疗保健服务所需的新型复合材料。