The potential of PIM-1/nano silver air separation membranes application in the production of the face masks in the COVID-19 pandemic

OVID-19 is the third CoV outbreak that has spread worldwide in the 21st century after severe acute respiratory SARS and MERS epidemics. The number of positive corona cases reached 565,207,160 up to July 18, 2022. One of the problems of patients and medical staff using surgical and multi-layer masks is difficult breathing, while the passage of the virus and its droplets through the holes of the mask causes the medical staff to use shields, as well as their effectiveness in long-term use of the mask. The use of PIM-1 membranes containing special silver nanoparticles proposed in this research can solve the this challenges. PIM-1 membranes, in addition to having the dimensions of the cavities smaller than the dimensions of the COVID-19 virus, as well as separating oxygen from nitrogen in the air, cause easier breathing.