China researchers develop COVID-19 virus-fighting material
By Deng Xiaoci
Chinese researchers have developed catalytic material that
can absorb and destroy the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). A recent test revealed
its virus-destroying efficiency reached 96.5 to 99.9 percent, the Global Times
learned from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics with the Chinese Academy
of Sciences, the project's developer on Monday, March 30.
According to the institute, from a chemical perspective, the
proteins, ribonucleic acid, fatty membranes, and other biological
macromolecules contained in the virus are not as stable as regular small
organic molecules and are easily hydrolyzed or inactivated by oxidation, which
makes it theoretically feasible to absorb and deactivate.
The newly developed catalytic material was developed on this
idea, the institute said.
Tests on the new material were conducted at the Center of
Diseases Prevention and Control in Eastern China's Anhui Province, and results
found the virus-deactivating efficiency was over 96.5 percent. The COVID-19
density level used in the test was 5 milligrams per milliliter, much higher any
real-life situation.
Hopefully, the new material can be used for future epidemic
control products and water cleaners.
The institute also revealed it had proposed a similar idea
to use catalytic materials to destroy SARS at the beginning of 2003, and had
submitted prototypes to the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Academy of
Military Medical Sciences for further tests, which revealed that the selected
materials were effective in the fight against SARS.
The material was not used because when they reached their
designated performance, the SARS outbreak had been contained, the institute
said.
Additionally, the similarities between the SARS coronavirus
and COVID-19 inspired the team to resume the study on new materials to see if
they could destroy it.
The institute has already manufactured over 100 kilograms,
and is capable of producing several tons.
The material can be customized accordingly for air filters
and face masks. The institute is seeking cooperation with a company to develop
products based on the materials to provide new solutions to contribute to
China's and the world's fight against COVID-19.
Source: Globaltimes.cn
China researchers develop COVID-19 virus-fighting material
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