By Maroon & White |
Dr. Christa Brosseau, a professor in the Faculty of Science and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Chemistry & Materials, is leading a team of researchers at Saint Mary’s investigating the use of medical-grade pulp in personal protective equipment (PPE). Dr. Brosseau’s project will explore innovative chemical strategies to help determine if Nova Scotian pulp mills can produce medical-grade pulp for N95 respirator production. “As a result of COVID-19, there is a massively increased global demand for N95 respirators,” said Dr. Christa Brosseau. “New technologies are urgently needed to help manage impending shortages, ideally with ’home-grown’ solutions.” Using combined expertise in the areas of chemical synthesis, materials characterization and process development, the team will work towards an innovative “made-in-Nova Scotia” approach for creation of a product similar to the Western red cedar formulation currently produced in British Columbia.
