A1 Journal article (refereed)
Decontamination of a surgical mask with UV-C irradiation : analysis of experimental results with optical simulations (2024)


Kiiskinen, T., Mangs, O., Virkajärvi, J., Elsehrawy, F., Salo, S., Miettinen, A., Halme, J., Harlin, A., & Ketoja, J. A. (2024). Decontamination of a surgical mask with UV-C irradiation : analysis of experimental results with optical simulations. Applied Optics, 63(25), 6523-6531. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.528056


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsKiiskinen, Titta; Mangs, Oliver; Virkajärvi, Jussi; Elsehrawy, Farid; Salo, Satu; Miettinen, Arttu; Halme, Janne; Harlin, Ali; Ketoja, Jukka A.

Journal or seriesApplied Optics

ISSN1559-128X

eISSN2155-3165

Publication year2024

Publication date21/08/2024

Volume63

Issue number25

Pages range6523-6531

PublisherOptica Publishing Group

Publication countryUnited States

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1364/AO.528056

Publication open accessOpenly available

Publication channel open accessPartially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/96925


Abstract

The suitability of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation for the decontamination of a surgical face mask was studied by decontamination experiments and carried out using Staphylococcus aureus and MS2 microbes. A moderate dosage level of 0.22J/cm2 achieved within 2 min led to an over 6-log10 reduction in viable microbe contamination of the inner filtering layer. The underlying reason for this effective decontamination of fibers with small external UV-C dosage was explored with ray-tracing optical simulations, supported by optical measurements on reflection and transmission. The model 3D fiber network was constructed from X-ray tomography images of the layered mask structure consisting of polypropylene fibers. Both simulations and optical measurements indicated that UV light was able to penetrate even the deepest material regions. The simulations show that, despite radiation reflection from the outer mask layer, microbes in the actual filtering layer are affected by the radiation with increased probability due to multiple refraction and scattering of UV light from the inner fibers.


Keywordsface shieldsdisinfectionbacteriairradiationultraviolet radiationfibrestomography


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

VIRTA submission year2024

Preliminary JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2024-14-10 at 15:07