Material, device, and method for deactivating pathogen in aerosol, and methods for manufacturing thereof

Abstract

A material for deactivating a pathogenic aerosol includes a supporting fibrous layer and a salt crystal disposed on the supporting fibrous layer. The salt crystal is a coating layer, which partially or completely covers the supporting fibrous layer. The salt crystal includes one or more of sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, sulfate, ammonium, phosphate, glutamate, tartrate, and their ions, and the material has an air filtration efficiency of at least 5%.

1 . A material for deactivating a pathogenic aerosol, comprising:
 a supporting fibrous layer; and   a salt crystal disposed on the supporting fibrous layer, wherein the salt crystal is a coating layer which partially or completely covers the supporting fibrous layer and the salt crystal includes one or more of sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, sulfate, ammonium, phosphate, glutamate, tartrate, and their ions, wherein the material has an air filtration efficiency of at least 5%.   
     
     
         2 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting fibrous layer includes a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         3 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting fibrous layer includes a hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         4 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the salt crystal is configured to absorb the pathogenic aerosol, including a pathogen on the supporting fibrous layer of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . The material of  claim 4 , wherein the salt crystal is configured to dissolve upon contact with the pathogenic aerosol causing evaporation of water from the pathogenic aerosol. 
     
     
         6 . The material of  claim 5 , wherein the salt crystal is further configured to recrystallize the salt dissolved by the pathogenic aerosol and deactivate the pathogen from the pathogenic aerosol. 
     
     
         7 . An air filter device, comprising the material of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . The air filter device of  claim 7 , which is configured to be worn as a mask for covering a wearer's nose and mouth, wherein the mask comprises a facemask and ear straps connected to the facemask, the facemask is configured to cover the wearer's nose and mouth, and the ear straps are configured to wrap around the wearer's ears to support a position of the facemask. 
     
     
         9 . The air filter device of  claim 7 , which is configured to be a respirator device, wherein the respirator device has a face piece, two filter cartridges disposed on the face piece, and a head strap connected to the face piece; the face piece is configured to cover a wearer's nose and mouth, and the head strap is configured to wrap around the wearer's head to support a position of the face piece. 
     
     
         10 . The air filter device of  claim 7 , which is configured to be an air filter device, wherein the air filter device comprises a frame for retaining one or more layer(s) of filter material(s), and wherein the air filter device comprises a vehicle cabin air filter device, a furnace air filter device or an air conditioner filter device. 
     
     
         11 . A material for deactivating a pathogenic aerosol, comprising:
 a supporting fibrous layer; and   a salt crystal disposed on the supporting fibrous layer, wherein the salt crystal is a coating layer which partially or completely covers the supporting fibrous layer and the salt crystal includes one or more of sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, sulfate, ammonium, phosphate, glutamate, tartrate, and their ions, wherein the amount of the salt crystals disposed on the supporting fibrous layer is from 3.011 mg/cm 2  to 18.611 mg/cm 2 .   
     
     
         12 . The material of  claim 11 , wherein the supporting fibrous layer includes a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         13 . The material of  claim 11 , wherein the supporting fibrous layer includes a hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         14 . The material of  claim 11 , wherein the salt crystal is configured to absorb the pathogenic aerosol, including a pathogen on the supporting fibrous layer of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         15 . The material of  claim 14 , wherein the salt crystal is configured to dissolve upon contact with the pathogenic aerosol causing evaporation of water from the pathogenic aerosol. 
     
     
         16 . The material of  claim 15 , wherein the salt crystal is further configured to recrystallize the salt dissolved by the pathogenic aerosol and deactivate the pathogen from the pathogenic aerosol. 
     
     
         17 . An air filter device, comprising the material of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         18 . The air filter device of  claim 17 , which is configured to be worn as a mask for covering a wearer's nose and mouth, wherein the mask comprises a facemask and ear straps connected to the facemask, the facemask is configured to cover the wearer's nose and mouth, and the ear straps are configured to wrap around the wearer's ears to support a position of the facemask. 
     
     
         19 . The air filter device of  claim 17 , which is configured to be a respirator device, wherein the respirator device has a face piece, two filter cartridges disposed on the face piece, and a head strap connected to the face piece; the face piece is configured to cover a wearer's nose and mouth, and the head strap is configured to wrap around the wearer's head to support a position of the face piece. 
     
     
         20 . The air filter device of  claim 17 , which is configured to be an air filter device, wherein the air filter device comprises a frame for retaining one or more layer(s) of filter material(s), and wherein the air filter device comprises a vehicle cabin air filter device, a furnace air filter device or an air conditioner filter device.