Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => COVID-19 => Topic started by: EvaH on 22/07/2020 15:31:01

Title: How could we improve PPE?
Post by: EvaH on 22/07/2020 15:31:01
Paul asks:

Could we improve PPE using a zebra arrangement where the black is regular material and the white is some sort of material with an osmotic effect allowing moisture to escape but not get in? My second suggestion would be using something like bubble wrap but instead of bubbles have long small tubes the length of the PPE and when you move it forces air up or down the tubes within the PPE. The tubes would be of different lengths to disperse the air evenly across the body. These ideas need more thought: there needs to be a way of ensuring COVID19 etc is not able to get under the PPE.


What do you think?
Title: Re: How could we improve PPE?
Post by: Edwina Lee on 23/07/2020 08:51:32
An air conditioned whole body suit with microbe disinfecting filters & moisture boil In/Out rather like a space suit sounds far better.
Title: Re: How could we improve PPE?
Post by: Edwina Lee on 29/07/2020 03:41:21
At the moment, my Personal Protective Equipment include:-
[1] standard reommended alcohol hand wash, clinical face masks
[2] UV-C + Ozone disinfection box
[3] Ozone generator x 2 ( costs 12 yuan each on Taobao) - I mount that in a box or cabinet powered by mains
[4] hospital sized disinfection unit (UV-C air disinfection when people around, Ozone disinfection while people not around)

My desired upgrade:-
a. a motor assisted breathing face mask. Can be purchased from Taobao, Looks to me it is an early design which can be much improved, but new designs are coming onto the market.
b. Mask frame to increase the useable surface area of the face mask. Can be purchased from Taobao.
c. Big eye goggles

When I get back to the UK, I will need to enter my garage which has been infected by a vast amount of mildew caused by a botched job done by cow boys. Upgraded PPEs will be perfect for me.  :D


Title: Re: How could we improve PPE?
Post by: Bored chemist on 29/07/2020 11:23:25
Ozone generator x 2 ( costs 12 yuan each on Taobao)
Just checking; that's less than I would pay for a cup of coffee, isn't it?
Title: Re: How could we improve PPE?
Post by: Edwina Lee on 29/07/2020 12:49:32
Ozone generator x 2 ( costs 12 yuan each on Taobao)
Just checking; that's less than I would pay for a cup of coffee, isn't it?
Yeap!
It includes a glass tube with a straight wire in the middle & a coil on the glass tube, the plastic mount, plus the step up power unit.  Produces a lot of ozone.  All unspecified & no brand & no contact info.
Great for producing prototypes.
I mounted it in a shoe box, and I was surprised that it worked!  :D
Title: Re: How could we improve PPE?
Post by: Bored chemist on 29/07/2020 13:17:44
Produces a lot of ozone.
How did you measure it?
Title: Re: How could we improve PPE?
Post by: Edwina Lee on 30/07/2020 09:48:58
Produces a lot of ozone.
How did you measure it?

I simply compare the strength of the smell relative to my hospital sized ozone genrator, and it is just as strong.
Title: Re: How could we improve PPE?
Post by: Bored chemist on 30/07/2020 10:27:29
Produces a lot of ozone.
How did you measure it?

I simply compare the strength of the smell relative to my hospital sized ozone genrator, and it is just as strong.

It's a pity there isn't a  cheap and  easy way to measure  ozone accurately.

People can smell it at part per billion levels, so if the smell is strong they assume there's "lots"- even though it might still be less than 1 part per million.
It's even more important because ozone generators become less efficient as they get older and they also depend on other factors like temperature and humidity.
Title: Re: How could we improve PPE?
Post by: Edwina Lee on 09/08/2020 10:38:39
The sensation of the smell changes with concentration.
With light concentration, it smells rather like scented paper.
With higher concentration, it smells between pleasant and ambiguous.
With high concentration, it is a bad smell, & one whiff is enough to cause hallucination of the smell for a few hours.