The information below was first posted on LinkedIn on 11 April 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-6654687029764464641-VEZG

N95 respirators (aka masks) are more than just three layers of “plastic” media.  The inner layer has been given an electrostatic charge during manufacture.  This charge is largely responsible for the ability of N95 to filter out small particles; filtration efficiency (FE) is >95%.  Common decontamination methods such as alcohol or soap and water eliminate the charge thereby reducing FE to about 50%.  Other methods might also adversely impact FE.

The challenge is to devise a means to restore electrostatic charge so N95 respirators can be reused regardless of the decontamination method employed.

Here are a few references to get you started.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US5401446?oq=5401446

https://utrf.tennessee.edu/information-faqs-performance-protection-sterilization-of-face-mask-materials/

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2763590

https://www.n95decon.org/