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.

冠状病毒病大流行（COVID-19）表明，每个人都严重缺乏医疗级个人防护装备（PPE），以防止病毒传播，特别是一线医护人员免受病毒感染。必须使用个人防护装备，以避免空气中携带细菌或病毒的液滴和颗粒感染和传播流行病。根据世界卫生组织的指导方针，口罩等防护装备的特定标准对于医疗保健提供者来说至关重要。许多航空公司、杂货店现在强制要求顾客戴口罩，以确保安全并遏制 COVID-19 的传播。 医用口罩有助于阻挡含有细菌/病毒的大颗粒飞沫、打喷嚏和咳嗽时喷出的喷雾。外科口罩可能会阻挡大颗粒飞沫；然而，其捕获亚微米颗粒的能力有限。因此，它可能无法提供针对细菌和其他污染物的完全保护。 N95 呼吸器和外科口罩用于保护佩戴者免受空气中颗粒和液滴的侵害。它可以阻挡至少 95% 的 0.3 微米颗粒。外科口罩由不同的过滤材料制成，这会影响人们呼吸的容易程度及其抵御污染物的能力。用于制造外科口罩的材料是采用纺粘技术的聚丙烯和采用熔喷技术制成的无纺布片。这些工艺技术的设置既耗时又麻烦。因此，寻找替代材料非常重要。 米勒西部林业产品公司 (MWFP) 是该项目的行业合作伙伴，利用化学、热力和机械工艺 (BCTMP) 生产纸浆。这项与 MWFP 合作研究计划的主要目标是评估和修改 BCTMP 和以此为基础开发一种新型复合材料，以满足制造面部防护罩和相关医疗保健产品所需的质量要求。