Jakarta, TheIndonesiaPost – The scarcity of medical masks prompted Gadjah Mada University (UGM) to develop mask sterilizers, especially N95 masks. With the sterilizer, the N95 mask is expected to be used repeatedly in hospitals or health clinics.
One member of the research team from the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing (FKKMK) UGM, Trisasi Lestari said, the stealing device would use ultraviolet C (UV-C) waves.
This sterilization is done by exposing the UV-C light for five minutes to the N95 mask that has been used. Ideally, sterilization of N95 masks is only done three times.
Trisasi said the World Health Organization (WHO) allowed the N95 mask to be used repeatedly until it was dirty or damaged.
“The price of N95 masks has been extremely expensive in the COVID era. It has risen more than 10 times the normal price. In fact, before COVID the price of N95 masks was already more expensive than surgical masks because of its better filter function,” Trisasi said. UGM official website.
According to Trisasi, another thing that drives the manufacture of UV-C devices is because some of the products used do not take into account the strength of the lamp for sterilization.
“Many hospitals make N95 mask sterilizers, but without calculating the power of UV-C lamps or a good duration of exposure so that the masks are damaged. We are also encouraged to make UV-C sterilizers designed specifically for N95 masks,” he said.
UGM Faculty of Engineering Researcher Eka Firmansyah added that sterilization using UV-C is one of the usual methods for decontaminating bacteria or viruses.
“Exposure to UV rays with the right dose, not excessive can reduce the risk of damage to the N95 filter mask so it is safer to use it repeatedly,” Eka said.
The selection of UV-C ultraviolet light waves, called Trisation is done with careful consideration so as not to damage the quality of the mask when sterilized. (ras/bbs)
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