As the pandemic has continued to spread across the globe, studies show that the COVID-19 virus may be present in aerosols that can be generated and spread through inhalation, coughing, sneeze, or talk to infected people. Researchers are increasingly focusing on developing tools and techniques to help decontaminate surfaces and places.
Although scientists have previously studied the use of electromagnetic energy to repel the flu virus in high humidity, less work has been done to understand the role of nonionizing radiation, such as microwave, in reducing the infectivity of viral pathogens in aerosols. The devices needed to both absorb contaminated aerosol streams and expose these aerosols to controlled microwave doses, with good character, were not readily available.
In Review of Scientific Instruments, by AIP Publishing, researchers from the Air Force Research Laboratory are reporting on the development of a set of experimental devices capable of transmitting electromagnetic waves to an aerosol blend of biological and viral media with the potential of power, energy , and change the frequency of the electromagnetic display. The researchers try to better identify the threshold levels of microwave energy needed to activate aerosolized viral particles and, therefore, their ability to spread disease.
“In this way, we believe that our experimental design is capable of fundamental analysis of a wide range of non-functional devices. This area of capability is particularly important with the range of interoperability devices. which may be found in the literature, “said co – author John Luginsland.
The key components of each system fit within standard biosecurity cabinets, ensuring the multiplicity of pathogens. In addition, the systems are designed to prevent the ingress of microwave radiation into the laboratory environment, which, at elevated levels, may interfere with other monitoring and electronic equipment.
During initial experiments, the AFRL researchers synthesize human-safe coronavirus surrogate, bovine coronavirus, to a range of microwave waves at frequencies ranging from 2.8 GHz to 7.5 GHz.
“The bovine coronavirus is similar in size and configuration to human coronavirus but is safe for humans,” said co-author Brad Hoff.
If exposure to microwave is proven to be effective enough in reducing infection, experimental efforts may then use aerosols containing COVID-19 coronavirus or other pathogens that infect people.
“If proven effective, the use of a microwave could enable rapid decontamination that is not treated with ultraviolet light or chemical cleaning for very busy areas, while at the same time could work at levels that are safe to do with human property, “Hoff said.
Source:
American Institute of Physics
Magazine Reference:
Hoff, BW, et al. (2021) Equipment for microwave exposure under control of aerosolized pathogens. Review of Scientific Instruments. doi.org/10.1063/5.0032823.