Research On Material For Reusable Pads

1. Is the freedom of sanitary pads still far away?

Reusable sanitary pads use solar energy to kill 99.9% of germs. This article presents research on material for reusable pads by scientists at Cardiff University. Scientists at Cardiff University are developing a material for reusable pads that could potentially kill up to 99.9 per cent of bacteria when exposed to sunlight. The team is developing a special type of fabric that is infused with nontoxic metals as catalysts, harnessing energy from the sun and producing compounds that kill bacteria, remove stains and neutralize odors. The material, which can be used in things like reusable sanitary pads, is rinsed with water and dried in the sun to initiate the sterilization process. The product, which is estimated to cost between US$0.03 and US$0.05, is believed to be of great benefit to people living in low- and middle-income countries where access to disposable hygiene products is expensive and limited.

2. material for reusable pads

Reusable sanitary pads and the like are environmentally friendly and low-cost alternatives to single-use plastic items; however, safe use requires careful disinfection and laundering regimes. In many countries around the world, access to disinfectants and clean water is at a premium, meaning that existing reusable products can greatly increase the risk of infection. The use of unhygienic reusable products has been found to lead to alarmingly high rates of vaginal infections in low- and middle-income countries. This causes chronic discomfort and doubles the risk of miscarriage, which can be fatal in communities with poor access to medical care, said project leader Dr Jennifer Edwards from Cardiff University's School of Chemistry. In Nepal, for example, almost half of all female agricultural workers are infected with this infection at any one time. The team has provided clear preliminary evidence that a nontoxic photoactive catalyst (PAC) can harness energy from sunlight to generate chemical energy in the form of germ-killing particles called reactive oxygen species (ROS). Using a catalyst can generate a large amount of ROS and is effective in killing 99.9% of Deinococcus radiodurans in just 15 minutes when exposed to UV light.

3. Kill bacteria

Importantly, the team has shown that antimicrobial activity occurs only under UV light and is ineffective in the dark, meaning the materials are benign and less likely to cause irritation when worn under clothing.

Thanks to a new grant from the Grand Challenges Explorations sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the team is exploring how this technology could be applied to suitable materials inside sanitary pads. In the meantime, they aim to optimize PACs so that they can be used against a broad range of pathogens and reduce organic blood products and colors. Our overall goal is to create a catalyst-infused self-cleaning material that could provide an inexpensive and easy-to-use solution for reusable menstrual products to improve the health of women in communities around the world, continued Dr Edwards Said. Our initial results show that the technology is already very effective at rapidly killing bacteria when exposed to sunlight, so we now need to spend the next 12 months optimizing our process and creating a product that is less likely to be fatal.

To sum up, this article introduces the ongoing research on materials for reusable sanitary pads by a team of scientists from Cardiff University, so that the public can understand the new development of material for reusable pads.