Protective masks symbolized the COVID-19 crisis amid skyrocketing demand. Battelle, a renowned private research organization, capitalized by selling its proven decontamination technology to the U.S. government.
COVID-19 exposed global mask shortages, from France's stockpile scandal to Taiwan's effective aid. Amid this, Battelle positioned itself for significant gains. A June 1, 2020, Wall Street Journal report details how the firm sold its technology to the U.S. government, with full backing from President Donald Trump.
Battelle's process is efficient: used masks go into specialized containers, are vaporized with hydrogen peroxide, and dried for hours. Each mask supports up to 20 cycles, per the company.
Battelle has already decontaminated approximately 700,000 FFP2 (N95) masks at $110 each, yielding tens of thousands in revenue. The government deal propelled them further—Trump approved a $400 million budget for 50 units, potentially climbing to $600 million.
The Trump administration embraced it, but N95 reuse divides experts. The FDA authorized limited use, while the CDC restricts it to total shortages. Mask maker 3M warns the process lacks certification, risking reduced effectiveness.
Administrators praise the supply boost, yet healthcare workers remain wary, citing worn filters, broken bands, and residue marks.
