Can disposable masks be reused after sterilization?

With the rise and spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19)

epidemic situation, all the masks are out of stock, or they are really hard to
find. You may wonder if you can disinfect and reuse disposable masks. How
to disinfect the mask without destroying its protective function?

At present, it is believed that both N95 mask and medical surgical

mask can effectively protect the user from the new coronavirus if using
them correctly. Structurally, the filter layer of these masks (N95 and
medical surgical mask) is made of non-woven fiber material, which can
make tiny particles adhere to its fiber. Breathing air is not obstructed and
can easily pass through the filter material. The mechanism of filtration is
mainly inertial collision, diffusion and electrostatic adsorption. The
premise of using the mask again after disinfection is that the sterilized
mask can neither affect the free circulation of air nor destroy the filtering
mechanism of the mask. So, what kind of disinfection can meet these two
points?

To find out the influence on the filtration mechanism of masks (N95

mask and medical surgical mask), five disinfection methods were
compared: 1) oven dry heat disinfection, 2) alcohol spraying disinfection,3)
steamer wet heat disinfection, 4) high temperature and high-pressure
disinfection and 5) ultraviolet disinfection.

Oven dry heat disinfection

Dry heat disinfection (heating at 70 ℃ for 30 minutes) had the least

effect on damaging the filtering mechanism, and the filtering effect could be
maintained above 95%.
 Alcohol spraying disinfection

The disinfection method of spraying alcohol on the mask will destroy

the electrostatic absorption of the mask, causing filtering efficiency of the
mask lowering below 95%.

Steamer wet heat disinfection/High temperature and high-pressure

disinfection

Other methods such as steamer damp heat method and high-pressure

high temperature sterilization methods also made the filtering efficiency of
the mask lower than 95%. In addition, high temperature and high-pressure
method makes the mask seriously deformed.

Ultraviolet disinfection

The new coronavirus is sensitive to ultraviolet rays, and ultraviolet

disinfection does not affect the filtration efficiency of respirators. However,
the inactivation effect of viruses in mask fibers, which cannot be directly
observed, is unknown. Therefore, it is not recommended.

The new coronavirus is sensitive to heat. It can effectively inactivate

the new coronavirus by heating for 30 minutes at 56 degrees Celsius.
Therefore, the single dry heat sterilization (70 degrees Celsius heating for
30 minutes) can effectively inactivate the virus without affecting the
protective function of the mask. However, it is uncertain whether several
times of disinfection affects the protective effect of the mask.

On February 9th 2020, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College,

Ministry of Education / Medical Molecular Virology Laboratory of Health
Committee and School of Public Health together published a scientific
research paper "Experimental research on safe and rapid regeneration of
disposable medical masks". It was published in the Journal of Microbiology
and Infection online version. The research paper confirmed that disposable
medical masks could be disinfected by using following method: After using
the mask, it can be wrapped with household fresh-keeping bags and treated
with household electric hair dryer for 30 minutes. After that it can be used
again. This method doesn’t affect masks original filter retention effect, and
the contaminated viruses are inactivated!

Cotton mask

Cotton mask may be the only choice for some people. Because there
is no such filter structure, cotton mask has a weak function of filtering
virus. However, in the absence of better masks, it’s better than nothing - it
can still block the droplets of the wearer. Usually cotton mask with more
than 12 layers of yarn is required. It can be disinfected repeatedly.

N95 or surgical masks

If there are not enough N95 or surgical masks, as long as the mask is not
obviously contaminated, soiled or damaged, it can also be considered to be
reused in a short period of time. After use you can fold the inner layer of the
mask in half, hang it separately or place it in a separate packaging bag.
Healthy people can use N95 mask for 8 hours continuously or
intermittently, and surgical mask for 4 hours at a time. Patients with
chronic respiratory diseases are not recommended to wear them for a long
time.

Sources:
- Discussion on the feasibility of sterilization and reuse of disposable dust mask by Yu
Taishan, He Yufang, et al. Labor safety and health research quarterly 0106 (2008)
- Pneumonia diagnosis and treatment plan for new coronavirus infection (trial version
fourth)
- Experimental study on safe and rapid regeneration of disposable medical masks,
scientific research paper of Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Ministry of
education / Medical Molecular Virology Laboratory of Health Committee and School of
public health