Microbial Ozone Decontamination of N95 Respirators: Efficacy and Material Preservation

Authors

  • Tanit Boonsiri Department of Microbiology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
  • Pimwan Thongdee Department of Microbiology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
  • Sirachat Nitchaphanit Department of Microbiology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
  • Nitchatorn Sungsirin Department of Microbiology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
  • Piyanate Kesakomol Department of Microbiology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
  • Sethapong Lertsakulbunlue Department of Pharmacology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
  • Phoempon Siangdang Department of Chemistry, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
  • Yeampon Nakaramontri Department of Chemistry, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
  • Veerachai Watanaveeradej Department of Microbiology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
  • Passara Wongthai Department of Microbiology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400 Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59796/jcst.V16N1.2026.165

Keywords:

germzero3 prototype, ozone decontamination, n95 respirators

Abstract

Ozone gas is a promising method for decontaminating personal protective equipment (PPE), providing broad antimicrobial activity with minimal residue effects. However, its effects on the structural integrity and filtration performance of N95 respirators are not well established. This study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of ozone treatment against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans on culture media and N95 respirators, and assessed whether fiber integrity and filtration efficiency were preserved using the GermZero3 prototype sterilizer developed with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). Microbial suspensions (10⁴ CFU/mL in TSB broth) were inoculated onto agar plates and respirator sections, and then exposed to 25–50 ppm ozone for 15–60 min. Viability was assessed by culture, while fiber integrity and filtration efficiency were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and a NaCl aerosol test. Complete eradication of P. aeruginosa was achieved after 15 min and S. aureus within 45 min. C. albicans showed 99.90–99.98% reduction by 45–60 min, with no statistically significant difference from full clearance. When applied to contaminated respirators, ozone treatment eliminated all three pathogens after 60 min. Fiber morphology remained intact, and filtration efficiency was preserved at 99.99%, exceeding the ≥95% N95 standard. These findings support ozone treatment with the GermZero3 sterilizer as a safe and effective method for extending N95 respirator use during shortages.

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Published

2025-12-20

How to Cite

Boonsiri, T. ., Thongdee, P., Nitchaphanit, S., Sungsirin, N., Kesakomol, P., Lertsakulbunlue, S. ., Siangdang, P. ., Nakaramontri, Y. ., Watanaveeradej, V. ., & Wongthai, P. (2025). Microbial Ozone Decontamination of N95 Respirators: Efficacy and Material Preservation. Journal of Current Science and Technology, 16(1), 165. https://doi.org/10.59796/jcst.V16N1.2026.165

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2026): January - March

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Research Article

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