Particle and Aerosol Research
Vol. 15, No. 4, December 2019, Pages 191-202
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ISSN : 1738-8716 (Print)
ISSN : 2287-8130 (Online)
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Performance and reusability of certified and uncertified face masks
Haebum Lee1), Seojeong Kim1), HungSoo Joo2), Hee-joo Cho1), and Kihong Park1) *)
1)National Leading Research Laboratory (Aerosol Technology and Monitoring Laboratory), School of Earth Science and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
2)Department of Environmental Engineering, Anyang University
*Corresponding author.
Tel.: +82-62-715-3279, E-mail: kpark@gist.ac.kr
Received 19 December 2019, Revised 30 December 2019, Accepted 30 December 2019, Available online 31 December 2019
http://dx.doi.org/10.11629/jpaar.2019.15.4.191
Abstracts
In this study, performance (particle removal efficiency and breathing resistance) of several commercially available face masks (electrostatic filter masks (KF80 certified), a nanofiber filter mask (KF80 certified), and an uncertified mask) with their filter structure and composition were evaluated. Also, effects of relative humidity (RH) of incoming air, water and alcohol exposure, and reusability on performance of face masks were examined. Monodisperse and polydisperse sodium chloride particles were used as test aerosols. Except the uncertified mask filter, PM2.5 removal efficiency was found to be higher than 90%, and the nanofiber filter mask had the highest quality factor due to the low pressure drop and high removal efficiency (nanofibers were arranged in a densely packed pore structure and contained a significant amount of fluorine in addition to carbon and oxygen). In the case of the KF80 certified mask, the removal efficiency was little affected when the RH of incoming air increased. When the mask filters were soaked in water, the removal efficiency of mask filters was degraded. In particular, the uncertified mask filter showed the highest removal efficiency degradation (26%). When the mask was soaked in alcohol, the removal efficiency also decreased with the greater degree than the water soaking case. The nanofiber mask filter showed the strongest resistance to alcohol exposure among tested mask filters. During evaluation of reusability of masks in real life, the removal efficiency of certified mask filter was less than 4% for 5 consecutive days (2 hours per day), while the removal efficiency of uncertified mask filter significantly decreased by 30% after 5 days.
Keywords
ace mask, filter, removal efficiency, breathing resistance, reusability
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