Background and Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of different disinfection methods on the efficiency, pressure drop, and quality of medical masks used by medical staff. The filtration efficiency of medical masks was also investigated in the present study.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, four models of medical masks used by the treatment staff were selected. The masks were then disinfected with the disinfection methods recommended by the disease control and prevention centers, including heat methods, autoclaves, ultraviolet rays, immersion in 70% alcohol, and immersion in sodium hypochlorite. Finally, the effect of each disinfection method on the efficiency, pressure drop, and quality of the masks was checked using the test system.
Results: Based on the results obtained from the study, disinfecting masks using thermal methods, autoclaving, ultraviolet radiation, immersion in sodium hypochlorite, and immersion in 70% alcohol caused changes in efficiency by 5.58%, 9.83%, 8.15%, 13.34%, and 20.38%, respectively. Additionally, changes in pressure drop were observed at rates of 12.9, 7, 6.92, 183.75, and 16.13 Pa, respectively. Moreover, the quality factor of masks improved after disinfection using thermal methods and autoclaving, in contrast to other methods. Furthermore, the assessment of filtration efficiency indicated that three out of four types of masks examined had efficiencies lower than 85%.
Conclusion: Disinfection of medical masks using the heat method was chosen as the best disinfection method due to the least change in efficiency, a slight increase in pressure drop, and availability, and the 70% alcohol immersion method was chosen as the weakest disinfection method due to the decrease in efficiency, increase in pressure drop, and destruction of the mask's structure.