Mainz 2022 – scientific programme
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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik
P 19: Poster II
P 19.46: Poster
Thursday, March 31, 2022, 16:00–17:30, P
Cold Atmospheric Plasma Decontamination of FFP3 Face Masks and Long-Term Material Effects — •Alisa Schmidt1, Chen-Yon Tobias Tschang1, Joachim Sann2, and Markus H. Thoma1 — 1I. Physical Institute, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany — 2Institute of Physical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
Motivated by the shortages of face masks and safety clothing in the beginning of the corona pandemic, we conducted studies on decontamination of FFP3 face masks with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and resulting material effects. Therefore, the bactericidal (Escherichia coli) and sporicidal (Bacillus atrophaeus) efficacy of CAP afterglow decontamination of FFP3 mask material was investigated by decontamination experiments in a surface micro discharge (SMD) plasma chamber. In addition, a detailed analysis of changes in long-term plasma treated (15h) mask material and its individual components - ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and polypropylene (PP) - was carried out using surface analysis methods such as laser microscopy, contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as fabric permeability and resistance measurements. The microbiological experiments showed that plasma treatment of FFP3 face masks with CAP afterglow of an SMD device effectively inactivates E. coli and B. atrophaeus on the fabric. Furthermore, long-term material effects indicate that FFP3 masks can be plasma decontaminated and reused multiple times (up to 5h) but only to a limited extent, as otherwise permeability levels no longer meet DIN EN 149 specifications.