Plasma generated ozone and reactive oxygen species for point of use PPE decontamination system

PLoS One. 2022 Feb 25;17(2):e0262818. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262818. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

This paper reports a plasma reactive oxygen species (ROS) method for decontamination of PPE (N95 respirators and gowns) using a surface DBD source to meet the increased need of PPE due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A system is presented consisting of a mobile trailer (35 m3) along with several Dielectric barrier discharge sources installed for generating a plasma ROS level to achieve viral decontamination. The plasma ROS treated respirators were evaluated at the CDC NPPTL, and additional PPE specimens and material functionality testing were performed at Texas A&M. The effects of decontamination on the performance of respirators were tested using a modified version of the NIOSH Standard Test Procedure TEB-APR-STP-0059 to determine particulate filtration efficiency. The treated Prestige Ameritech and BYD brand N95 respirators show filtration efficiencies greater than 95% and maintain their integrity. The overall mechanical and functionality tests for plasma ROS treated PPE show no significant variations.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • Decontamination / methods*
  • Equipment Reuse
  • Humans
  • N95 Respirators
  • Personal Protective Equipment*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species*

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species

Grants and funding

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.