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Over the weekend, India overtook Spain to become the fifth worst-hit country by COVID-19. At the same time, many states are relaxing lockdown measures. People are moving out of their homes armed with masks and sanitizers. In the midst of all this, IIT Mandi claims to have developed a mask made out of recycled waste PET bottles. According to them, these masks are not only more breathable but also washable and reusable.
IIT Mandi will be tackling both, the spread of coronavirus and plastic pollution with their innovation. They have also filed for patenting the filter membrane technology derived from plastic bottles. IIT Mandi says that although the recycled masks are made out of plastic, they are safe to use and are at par with N95 respirators and medical masks.
Sumit Sinha Ray, assistant professor at IIT Mandi said that at the commercial scale the recycled masks will cost less than Rs 20 per piece. He also said that they can be reused up to 30 times. While the commercially available masks and surgical masks both lack in terms of breathability and efficiency respectively, the mask developed by IIT Mandi has the better qualities of both. These masks use nanofibres, which can filter out small particles effectively while still being more breathable. The ultrafine fibres allow an airflow that operates with lesser resistance.
The IIT Mandi team has used waste plastic to develop a single, thin layer membrane that protects against pollution and disease spread with desirable particle filtration efficiency. Furthermore, the recycled masks are an eco-friendly innovation.
Masks are going to become a necessary part of our lives post-lockdown. With only the US, Brazil, Russia, and the UK ahead of it, India might soon be needing cost-effective but equally efficient solutions in order to stop further spread of the disease.
Here are some more inspiring stories from young innovators that might interest you:
Two birds with one stone
IIT Mandi will be tackling both, the spread of coronavirus and plastic pollution with their innovation. They have also filed for patenting the filter membrane technology derived from plastic bottles. IIT Mandi says that although the recycled masks are made out of plastic, they are safe to use and are at par with N95 respirators and medical masks.
Sumit Sinha Ray, assistant professor at IIT Mandi said that at the commercial scale the recycled masks will cost less than Rs 20 per piece. He also said that they can be reused up to 30 times. While the commercially available masks and surgical masks both lack in terms of breathability and efficiency respectively, the mask developed by IIT Mandi has the better qualities of both. These masks use nanofibres, which can filter out small particles effectively while still being more breathable. The ultrafine fibres allow an airflow that operates with lesser resistance.
The IIT Mandi team has used waste plastic to develop a single, thin layer membrane that protects against pollution and disease spread with desirable particle filtration efficiency. Furthermore, the recycled masks are an eco-friendly innovation.
Masks are going to become a necessary part of our lives post-lockdown. With only the US, Brazil, Russia, and the UK ahead of it, India might soon be needing cost-effective but equally efficient solutions in order to stop further spread of the disease.
Here are some more inspiring stories from young innovators that might interest you:
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