Development of a desktop mask charger

Abstract

Polypropylene mesh, integrated in N95 respirators and surgical masks that are widely used in the current crisis of COVID-19, filters aerosols via electrostatics in addition to the physical block. However, any contact to water such as storage under high humidity, exposure to exhaling breath, and washing in water removes its charges and thus compromises its filtering efficiency. We developed a desk top device based on a Cockcroft-Walton's voltage multiplier that can restore the electrostatic charge of surgical masks within 1 min and recover the filtering efficiency of the polypropylene mesh from 87% to 97%. The device is easy to operate and safe, thus may be applied for the reuse of surgical masks towards reducing the plastic wastes.