SARS-CoV-2: A Study of the Dispersion Characteristics of Aerosol Particles Using Ultrafast Carbon Nanotube Sensors in a Simulated Indoor Environment (A Novel Technique)

Overview

The SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed the lack of preparedness of many advanced countries and their methodologies to bring it under control. Understanding the trajectory and spread pattern of virus- carrying airborne respiratory aerosol droplets with quantifiable data can solidify or negate the guidelines for social distancing, and disease control and spread. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) sensors, CSM-eSTEP cough stimulator, optical particle sizer, and a particle image velocimetry (PIV) were used to a) quantify velocity of exhaled air from cough under normal physiological conditions, b) evaluate and quantify the transport of aerosol particles from a simulated cough and c) assess or evaluate dispersion characteristics of aerosol droplets within the six feet to validate guidelines set by CDC. This experimental trial validated that a cough (teenager and adult) airflow pressure is equivalent to 30-50 PSI compressed airflow from an orifice. The cough airflow trajectory was found to be detectable and quantifiable by sensors as far as 1.3 m (meters) away from the source. Further experimentation revealed a statistically high number (10 cm away, F(2,87)=4.76, p<0.012, and 1.8 m away, F(2,87)=4.18, p<0.018) of aerosols particles detected beyond the social distance guideline set by CDC. Lastly, the PIV and velocity vectors reveal the disorderly spread of the aerosol particles thus requiring thorough sanitization in addition to social distancing guidelines. In the future, different indoor criteria of humidity, temperature, and HVAC airflow will be set to understand virus-laden aerosol velocity vectors.

Competition history

• JSHS 2022 Category not listed

Resources

• National JSHS abstract book ↗

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