COVID-19 mask waste to energy via thermochemical pathway: Effect of Co-Feeding food waste

Abstract

In this study, co-pyrolysis of single-use face mask (for the protection against COVID-19) and food waste was investigated for the purpose of energy and resource valorization of the waste materials. To this end, disposable face mask (a piece of personal protective equipment) was pyrolyzed to produce fuel-range chemicals. The pyrolytic gas evolved from the pyrolysis of the single-use face mask consisted primarily of non-condensable permanent hydrocarbons such as CH 4 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 6 , and C 3 H 8 . An increase in pyrolysis temperature enhanced the non-condensable hydrocarbon yields. The pyrolytic gas had a HHV of >40 MJ kg −1 . In addition, hydrocarbons with wider carbon number ranges (e.g., gasoline-, jet fuel-, diesel-, and motor oil-range hydrocarbons) were produced in the pyrolysis of the disposable face mask. The yields of the gasoline-, jet fuel-, and diesel-range hydrocarbons obtained from the single-use mask were highest at 973 K. The pyrolysis of the single-use face mask yielded 14.7 wt.% gasoline-, 18.4 wt.% jet fuel-, 34.1 wt.% diesel-, and 18.1 wt.% motor oil-range hydrocarbons. No solid char was produced via the pyrolysis of the disposable face mask. The addition of food waste to the pyrolysis feedstock led to the formation of char, but the presence of the single-use face mask did not affect the properties and energy content of the char. More H 2 and less hydrocarbons were produced by co-feeding food waste in the pyrolysis of the disposable face mask. The results of this study can contribute to thermochemical management and utilization of everyday waste as a source of energy.

Management of surgical mask waste to activated carbons for CO2 capture

“…The precursor to the production of activated carbons were disposable face masks manufactured by AP PROPERTY S.A. (Poland). According to the literature the average carbon content of the precursor material – surgical mask was 75.9% [41] , [42] . A saturated KOH solution was used as the chemical activating agent.…”

Single-Use Disposable Waste Upcycling via Thermochemical Conversion Pathway

“…When pyrolyzing herbal medicine waste with food waste with a ratio of 50:50 at 700 °C, it led to 1.9% H 2 selectivity [ 24 ]. The co-pyrolysis of a 1:1 mixture of face mask and food waste gave 1.6% H 2 selectivity at 700 °C [ 23 ]. At a comparable temperature and feedstock composition, the co-pyrolysis of single-use food containers and corrugated fiberboard exhibited 1.2% H 2 selectivity (this study).…”

“…In addition, the co-pyrolysis of the single-use food containers and corrugated fiberboard resulted in no phenolic compounds or polycyclic aromatic compounds (0% selectivity), while significant amounts of phenolic compounds and polycyclic aromatic compounds were found (>20% selectivity) in the corrugated fiberboard-derived pyrolytic liquid. Although other co-pyrolysis processes (e.g., wood bark/food waste [ 25 ], herbal medicine waste/food waste [ 24 ], and face mask/food waste [ 23 ]) have been reported to suppress the formation of such compounds, those processes resulted in a pyrolytic product containing certain amounts of phenolic compounds and polycyclic aromatic compounds. This should indicate that the addition of the single-use food containers suppresses the formation of phenolic compounds and polycyclic aromatic compounds during the pyrolysis of the corrugated fiberboard.…”

Waste Face Surgical Mask Transformation into Crude Oil and Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers

“…[ 7 , 9 , 10 ] Just for the year 2020, it was estimated that about 1.56 billion surgical face masks entered into oceanic bodies, which would be nearly equal to 4680–6240 metric tons of waste plastic. [ 11 , 12 ] Such a huge volume of plastics and microplastics entering into the aquatic domains can potentially harm the marine creatures upon the ingestion or getting stuck into the plastic masks, which may either annihilate them in a direct way (i. e., impairment of reproduction and growth of young mammals) and/or render them more vulnerable to the other dangers. [ 13 , 14 , 15 ] In addition to marine life, waste face masks are also becoming the cause of premature deaths of fauna and flora due to choking and suffocating entanglement.…”

“… [20] In another study, it was found that during the pyrolysis of disposable face masks non‐condensable hydrocarbons of great importance from a fuel point of view, such as CH 4 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 6 and C 3 H 8 , are evolved. [11] Aragaw and Mekonnen launched a research to identify the polymer type of face masks and gloves and analyzed their transformation into crude oil via pyrolysis. [21] Chen et al.…”