Indonesia is still shackled by the Covid-19 Pandemic. The National Covid-19 Handling Committee (2021) recorded that there are 2.88 million latest cases of victims infected, 2.26 million people were cured, but 73,582 people could not be saved.

The government continues to carry out preventive efforts in the form of vaccination programs, PPKM (Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities), and the 5M program. One of the 5M programs implemented is to use masks.

In addition to the government’s appeal that continues to remind the public about the importance of using masks, several health experts stated that the use of masks (especially cloth masks) was not recommended in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

They urge the public to use medical masks or KN95 masks with 95% effectiveness. This mask also has its pros and cons. In terms of prices, which reached 90,000/10 pieces for disposable masks to public complaints because the pore size was too small so it made its user difficult to breathe.

Reflecting on this problem, four Chemical Engineering students of FT-UB made an innovation of Anti-Covid 19 masks based on Silica Aerogel and Graphene Nanoparticles.

These masks are expected to be of interest to the public because they are affordable, have no side effects, and have high prevention effectiveness against viruses.

Yoga Caesario Firmansyah as Team Leader explained that his team applied cotton fabric composite membrane technology with a silica-based superhydrophobic film layer.

“The outer layer of this mask is very hydrophobic. So besides being proven to be able to regulate humidity, this material also has a hydrophilic particle rejection of up to 99%,” explained this 2019 class student.

The use of this material, he continued, can block foreign components that have hydrophilic properties, such as respiratory droplets that can contain the COVID-19 virus.

The mask is also equipped with a filter material in the form of graphene in the inner layer, which is a carbon-based nanoparticle that has been proven to be most effective in the adsorption of air pollutants and other harmful particulates.

Composed of the main material in the form of soft cotton that has passed clinical trials, this mask makes it easy for air to pass through so that it makes the user comfortable.

In innovating this mask, Yoga was assisted by his three colleagues; Aqsa Zaki Widyatma, Fatimah Fitri Khoiriyah, and Imago Lavelia Dei.

With the guidance of Ir. Bambang Poerwadi. MS, the team will struggle to represent UB to the upcoming XXXIV 2021 National Student Scientific Week (PIMNAS) in the Karya Cipta category.

“I hope, with these modifications, Anti-Covid masks can be a product that minimizes the appearance of irritants, facilitates air circulation, and maximizes the effectiveness of masks in preventing the spread of coronavirus,” Yoga concluded. (humasft)