[caption id="attachment_137775" align="alignright" width="197"]
"Reusing can be done by washing or even ironing the mask. The virus cannot survive in a heated environment over 70 degrees Celsius, so after every use, you may iron the mask thoroughly several times and it is good as new" Head Researcher Gayan Tilakaratne[/caption]
The University of Peradeniya broke new ground earlier this month with the introduction of a new environmentally friendly, biodegradable, cost-effective, and reusable facemask named “Respirone”. With over 10,000 masks produced since its introduction, Respirone is rapidly becoming a safe and sustainable solution to curtailing the Covid-19 problem.
The mask was produced following a year of careful research conducted by a team from the University of Peradeniya, headed by Faculty of Science Department of Chemistry Senior Prof. RMG Rajapakse, together with University of Peradeniya Consultant in Radiology and Technology Dr. Chaminda Herath, Postgraduate in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and Head Researcher Gayan Tilakaratne, and University of Peradeniya Faculty of Science Department of Zoology Technical Officer and micro analyst Niroshan Samarasinghe.
Respirone is deemed to have a bacterial filtration efficacy of 99.99%, according to the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), and is also said to be 99.8% effective against the SVR virus, according to a study by the Imperial College London, UK, who are further conducting a study on its efficiency against SARS CoV-2 (Covid-19). Successful trials and surveys were conducted amongst university students before its production. The mask is said to have high resistance to flammability and blood and fluid permeation.
To get a clear idea of its efficiency, reusability, and its environmentally friendly properties, Brunch reached out to the research team to gain more insights.
Speaking on the goal behind this initiative, Prof. Rajapakshe told us it was about simply creating a solution for an existing problem. “We started research when the pandemic started creating waves in the world. We basically identified all the issues people faced with surgical and other masks and decided to find a collective solution. The main issues were that they were not environmentally friendly and reusable, so we looked into creating a highly efficient product to protect us against the virus while it remained harmless to the environment, and we came up with Respirone,” he explained.
Thilakarathne spoke to us on the practical benefits of Respirone and shared that unlike the N95 mask, Respirone is made out of 100% cotton material. It is packed with biodegradable polythene and is overall 99% environmentally friendly. Addressing this curious percentage, Thilakarathne shared that this is because the plastic nozzle used to adjust the ear straps in the mask is made of a biodegradable plastic material and the use of plastic is the denominator that lowers its sustainability percentage.”
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From left: Charaka Jayasinghe, Gayan Thilakarathne, Ruwan Abewardene, Prof. Gamini Rajapkshe, Dr. Chaminda Herath, and Niroshan Samarasinghe[/caption]
Speaking on the reusability of the mask, Thilakarathne shared that Respirone is capable of retaining its chemical property even after 25 washes, unlike the N95 mask. He said N95 is recommended only for one-time use, even though people may have got into the habit of washing it, adding that when washed, the pore size may increase. The Respirone is made to withstand washing and extreme heat, he emphasised.
We asked Thilakarathne to tell us how the mask should be washed/reused for better use, to which he shared: “Reusing can be done by washing or even ironing the mask. The virus cannot survive in a heated environment over 70 degrees Celsius, so after every use, you may iron the mask thoroughly several times and it is good as new. If you prefer to wash it, this has to be done with soap/detergent and normal water. We recommend machine washing instead of hand washing the mask, as it is far more effective.”
The sales aspect of the masks is handled by the State Trading Corporation and Respirone is currently sold at Sathosa outlets in three colours (white, black, and brown) in three sizes (large, medium, and small). We were further told that the university is producing the mask in batches for government corporations based on orders received.
How Respirone works
Respirone is a three-layered, nanotechnologically modified mask designed to repel and destroy any aerosol particles containing the virus, blood, or any other water-based stains.
The outer layer is a cotton fabric with hydrophobic properties to repel any aerosol particles. The second layer is a nanotechnologically modified middle layer of cotton fabric with a negatively charged viral envelope which is electrostatically bound by the positively charged microparticles used to cover the pores of the cotton fabric to the level below 300 nm.
The star-shaped nanoparticles present throughout the surface of this layer can deactivate the virus. The innermost layer is made up of 100% hydrophilic cotton to adsorb carbon dioxide and moisture present in the exhaled air and to quickly expel from the headspace not allowing for re-inhalation of carbon dioxide-rich air.
"Reusing can be done by washing or even ironing the mask. The virus cannot survive in a heated environment over 70 degrees Celsius, so after every use, you may iron the mask thoroughly several times and it is good as new" Head Researcher Gayan Tilakaratne[/caption]
The University of Peradeniya broke new ground earlier this month with the introduction of a new environmentally friendly, biodegradable, cost-effective, and reusable facemask named “Respirone”. With over 10,000 masks produced since its introduction, Respirone is rapidly becoming a safe and sustainable solution to curtailing the Covid-19 problem.
The mask was produced following a year of careful research conducted by a team from the University of Peradeniya, headed by Faculty of Science Department of Chemistry Senior Prof. RMG Rajapakse, together with University of Peradeniya Consultant in Radiology and Technology Dr. Chaminda Herath, Postgraduate in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and Head Researcher Gayan Tilakaratne, and University of Peradeniya Faculty of Science Department of Zoology Technical Officer and micro analyst Niroshan Samarasinghe.
Respirone is deemed to have a bacterial filtration efficacy of 99.99%, according to the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), and is also said to be 99.8% effective against the SVR virus, according to a study by the Imperial College London, UK, who are further conducting a study on its efficiency against SARS CoV-2 (Covid-19). Successful trials and surveys were conducted amongst university students before its production. The mask is said to have high resistance to flammability and blood and fluid permeation.
To get a clear idea of its efficiency, reusability, and its environmentally friendly properties, Brunch reached out to the research team to gain more insights.
Speaking on the goal behind this initiative, Prof. Rajapakshe told us it was about simply creating a solution for an existing problem. “We started research when the pandemic started creating waves in the world. We basically identified all the issues people faced with surgical and other masks and decided to find a collective solution. The main issues were that they were not environmentally friendly and reusable, so we looked into creating a highly efficient product to protect us against the virus while it remained harmless to the environment, and we came up with Respirone,” he explained.
Thilakarathne spoke to us on the practical benefits of Respirone and shared that unlike the N95 mask, Respirone is made out of 100% cotton material. It is packed with biodegradable polythene and is overall 99% environmentally friendly. Addressing this curious percentage, Thilakarathne shared that this is because the plastic nozzle used to adjust the ear straps in the mask is made of a biodegradable plastic material and the use of plastic is the denominator that lowers its sustainability percentage.”
[caption id="attachment_137776" align="alignleft" width="268"] From left: Charaka Jayasinghe, Gayan Thilakarathne, Ruwan Abewardene, Prof. Gamini Rajapkshe, Dr. Chaminda Herath, and Niroshan Samarasinghe[/caption]
Speaking on the reusability of the mask, Thilakarathne shared that Respirone is capable of retaining its chemical property even after 25 washes, unlike the N95 mask. He said N95 is recommended only for one-time use, even though people may have got into the habit of washing it, adding that when washed, the pore size may increase. The Respirone is made to withstand washing and extreme heat, he emphasised.
We asked Thilakarathne to tell us how the mask should be washed/reused for better use, to which he shared: “Reusing can be done by washing or even ironing the mask. The virus cannot survive in a heated environment over 70 degrees Celsius, so after every use, you may iron the mask thoroughly several times and it is good as new. If you prefer to wash it, this has to be done with soap/detergent and normal water. We recommend machine washing instead of hand washing the mask, as it is far more effective.”
The sales aspect of the masks is handled by the State Trading Corporation and Respirone is currently sold at Sathosa outlets in three colours (white, black, and brown) in three sizes (large, medium, and small). We were further told that the university is producing the mask in batches for government corporations based on orders received.
How Respirone works
Respirone is a three-layered, nanotechnologically modified mask designed to repel and destroy any aerosol particles containing the virus, blood, or any other water-based stains.
The outer layer is a cotton fabric with hydrophobic properties to repel any aerosol particles. The second layer is a nanotechnologically modified middle layer of cotton fabric with a negatively charged viral envelope which is electrostatically bound by the positively charged microparticles used to cover the pores of the cotton fabric to the level below 300 nm.
The star-shaped nanoparticles present throughout the surface of this layer can deactivate the virus. The innermost layer is made up of 100% hydrophilic cotton to adsorb carbon dioxide and moisture present in the exhaled air and to quickly expel from the headspace not allowing for re-inhalation of carbon dioxide-rich air.