Work

Breathing green: Sustainable approaches for the reuse of FFP2 facemasks

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Facemasks are essential components in healthcare environments, but their disposal represents a significant environmental concern. This study proposes an optimized sterilization treatment for the reprocessing of electrostatic filter (EF) and mechanical filter (MF) facemasks using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ) and hydrogen peroxide, achieving a Sterility Assurance Level (SAL) of 10 -6 in microbial load. The performance of the facemasks was evaluated after 1, 5, and 10 cycles and compared with those subjected to ethylene oxide and to γ-rays sterilization procedure, in terms of filtration efficiency, breathability, electrostatic charges of the filters, and of mechanical properties of the elastic bands. Structural and chemical changes were characterized using SEM and FTIR. The findings demonstrated that scCO 2 treatment induced electrostatic charges in the MF, improving their filtration efficiency. The supercritical treatment also preserved the chemical and structural integrity of both types of filters. Results underscore the effectiveness of the scCO 2 method as a viable and sustainable alternative to conventional sterilization methods.

Source: Journal of environmental chemical engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2025.118991

Authors: María Carracedo-Pérez, Cristina Prieto, María Blanco-Vales, Beatriz Magariños, Clara López-Iglesias, Carlos A. García-González

Institutions: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos

Language: English

Topic: Infection Control and Ventilation

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,350