A University of BC researcher is being hailed for an innovation that uses salt to destroy COVID-19 droplets on reusable masks.
Recent PhD graduate Ilaria Rubino used a salt and water solution on the first or middle layer of a mask and found as droplets were exhaled through the mask, spiky salt crystals would develop and damage the bacteria or virus within minutes.
Rubino receives an innovation award today from Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization honouring academic researchers, and joins Simon Fraser University Chemistry PhD student Audrey Taylor at the virtual ceremony.
Taylor is being recognized for discovering how to ``see'' inside lithium ion batteries so developers can inspect the performance and longevity of protective coatings which are key to the batteries fuelling the electric car industry.