Executive Summary : | The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, gowns, shoes, gloves, and cloths. Despite efforts, most commercial face masks are below the required N95 standard. A project proposal based on electrospun nanofiber membranes based PPE is proposed under Indo-Portugal collaboration. The nanofiber membranes will be synthesized using electrospinning processes simple and co-axial, using mostly biodegradable polymers and active materials ceramics and nanoparticles. The developed membranes will be characterized for surface area, morphology, chemical composition, chemical interactions, and pore structure. A prototype protective clothing module consisting of three layers will be developed, with microbiological studies and filtration efficiency tests. The project aims to develop suitable protective clothing to fight against the epidemic caused by various micro-organism viruses and bacteria. The research outcomes will be published jointly in international journals, and suitable firms will be contacted for production of protective clothing. The project will also facilitate the scale-up of technology and the development of new high-value products based on scientific knowledge generated within the 36 months of the project. |