Development and validation of technologies suitable for the decontamination and re-use of contaminated N95 filtering facepiece respirators in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought significant challenges to society globally, particularly in the area of healthcare provision. A pressing need existed in protecting those tasked with delivering healthcare solutions during the COVID-19 crisis by providing solutions for preserving adequate supplies of effective personal protective equipment (PPE). AIM: To evaluate and validate available methods for the decontamination of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) while maintaining functionality during re-use. METHODS: Multiple low-temperature steam and vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) technologies were assessed for inactivation of Mycobacterium spp. and feline calicivirus (employed as representatives of the contamination challenge). FINDINGS: Virus (≥3log10) and Mycobacterium spp. (≥6log10) inactivation was achieved on various types of N95 FFRs using an array of heat (65-71oC), humidity (>50% relative humidity) and VHP without affecting the performance of the PPE. CONCLUSION: The methods have been validated and were authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration under a temporary emergency use authorization. Based on the findings, opportunities exist for development and deployment of decontamination methods made from simple, general purpose materials and equipment should a future need arise.

Synthesis and characterization of Rhodium(III) dichloro complexes with unsymmetrically bound salen-type ligands.

We have synthesized a series of novel octahedral Rh(III) salen-type complexes where the salen ligand is unsymmetrically bound to the Rh(III) dichloride center. This mode of bonding left one intact phenol group coordinating to the rhodium center and has never before been observed in salen-metal chemistry. These remarkably stable complexes possess unique coordination geometry and represent the first time that Rh(III) salen complexes have been successfully isolated from the direct combination of RhCl(3).3H2O and the salen ligand in the absence of a nucleophilic base. The (salen)Rh(III) dichloride complex can be converted to the analogous monochloride complex by reaction with metal carbonate salts.

New SO(2) Iron-Containing Cluster Compounds [PPN](2)[Fe(3)(CO)(9)(&mgr;(3),eta(2)-SO(2))], [PPN](2)[Fe(3)(CO)(8)(&mgr;-SO(2))&mgr;(3)-S], [PPN](2)[Fe(3)(CO)(8)(&mgr;-SO(2))(&mgr;(3)-CCO)], and [PPN](2)[Fe(2)(CO)(6)(&mgr;-SO(2))(2)] from Heterometal Precursors.

Sulfur dioxide reacts with [PPN](2)[MFe(3)(CO)(14)] (M = Cr, Mo, W) (PPN = bistriphenylphosphonium iminium) to produce [PPN](2)[Fe(3)(CO)(9)(&mgr;(3),eta(2)-SO(2))] (I) and [PPN](2)[Fe(3)(CO)(8)(&mgr;-SO(2))&mgr;(3)-S] (II), which were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, (13)C NMR, and X-ray crystallography. Further reaction of I with sulfur dioxide results in the formation of II in 48% yield. Reaction of SO(2) with [PPN](2)[Fe(4)(CO)(13)] yields [PPN](2)[Fe(2)(CO)(6)(&mgr;-SO(2))(2)] (III) which was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, (13)C NMR, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. One equivalent of sulfur dioxide with [PPN](2)[MFe(3)(CO)(14)C] (M = Cr, W) produces [PPN](2)[Fe(3)(CO)(8)(&mgr;-SO(2))(&mgr;(3)-CCO)] (IV), which on further reaction with SO(2) gives the known cluster [PPN](2)[Fe(3)(CO)(7)(&mgr;-SO(2))(2)(&mgr;(3)-CCO)] (V). An excess of sulfur dioxide with [MFe(3)(CO)(n)()C](x)()(-) (M = Cr, W: n =13, x = 2; M = Rh: n = 12, x = 1; M = Mn: n = 13, x = 1) produced V as the only identified product. Crystallographic data for I.0.5CH(2)Cl(2): monoclinic, Cc (no. 9), a = 29.7648(3) Å, b = 14.6496(1) Å, c = 21.7620(3) Å, beta = 123.397(1) degrees, V = 7922.3 Å(3); Z = 4. Crystallographic data for III.NCCH(3): monoclinic P2(1) (no. 4), a = 10.0295(5) Å, b = 26.356(1) Å, c = 14.1032(7) Å, beta = 94.691 degrees, V = 3715.6(3) Å(3); Z = 4.