COVID-19 Emergency - Using UV Lamps to sanitize Face Masks overnight

[Zero999]

scammer banned

I'm very sorry for not reporting that post. I can't believe I was gullible enough to think they genuinely purchased the product and were happy with it. They were obviously a scammer, spamming and trying to con people. 

[helius]

I wonder why they don't salvage flyback transformers from discarded CRT TVs (should be fairly easy to find a lot that still work due to the sheer number) and just use an arc as the UV source. It would also generate ozone, so it would even be dual action sanitation.

Typically, you don't want to create a fire hazard in the course of sterilizing a pathogen that may or may not be present. A bit like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Air-arc electrodes have fast rates of erosion, combined with the fire issue mean they can only really be used under contant supervision by trained operators in asbestos fire proofed rooms. Which is exactly how they were used in classic cinema projection booths before the advent of the xenon lamp (as well as in other industrial settings).

BTW, flyback transformers do not create high voltage on their own, they require oscillator circuits. So I don't think your suggestion even works economically.

[KaneTW]

You can use undoped quartz mercury lamps if you want ozone. But, you don't really want ozone. It's a pain to deal with.

The best method afaik is still vapor phase H2O2, but that's unfeasible for the home user.

[bson]

You just wash the masks and have a few.

Indeed.  Or if it's a single use, mist it with isopropyl alcohol until wetted through, and leave to dry.

[Buriedcode]

You just wash the masks and have a few.

Indeed.  Or if it's a single use, mist it with isopropyl alcohol until wetted through, and leave to dry.

*70% IPA

[robca]

You just wash the masks and have a few.

Indeed.  Or if it's a single use, mist it with isopropyl alcohol until wetted through, and leave to dry.

Actually, no, don't use IPA or Ethanol

All the single use masks (esp N95) rely on electrostatic effects and alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl) removes the treatment. Also ruins the seal https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-validates-decontamination-methods-re-use-n95-respirators. UV has a lot of problems, too (mostly: it doesn't penetrate deep into the fibers, and over time damages the materials used

The best domestic method to decontaminate a single use mask is 10-15 minutes in a 70C oven.Safe, easy to do, and scalable. Can find plenty of articles on this

Also, leave the mask unused for a few days in a dry location, and no virus will remain

[NiHaoMike]

BTW, flyback transformers do not create high voltage on their own, they require oscillator circuits. So I don't think your suggestion even works economically.

Trivial to make one with just the addition of a power transistor and a resistor, so easy I managed to do it in 6th grade. It doesn't take much power to make an arc that generates a significant amount of ozone, in fact keeping the power down greatly reduces the fire and electrode erosion problems.