Thermal degradation of hazardous 3-layered COVID-19 face mask through pyrolysis: Kinetic, thermodynamic, prediction modelling using ANN and volatile product characterization

Nawaz, Ahmad; Kumar, Pradeep

doi:10.1016/j.jtice.2022.104538

Cited by 30 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…From Figure 1, the TG and DTG curves for the pyrolysis of face mask are observed to show only one degradation peak, at lower heating rate of 10 °C min -1 , the degradation temperature range is determined to be 218 to 424 °C. A literature search was found that studied the thermal degradation range within 312 to 471°C for the face mask, which is comparatively similar to the current study [8]. At 100 °C min -1 , the degradation temperature range increased to 380 to 550 °C.…”

Section: Tga Resultssupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Following this, there are studies that look into converting these wastes into renewable energy source. According to Nawaz and Kumar [8], pyrolysis is the preferred thermochemical conversion method as it is able to remove potential pathogens, while converting these wastes into valuable green fuels. However, in their studies, only low to moderate heating rates (10 °C min -1 to 100 °C min -1 ) were utilised to study the pyrolytic behaviour of the face mask.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Thermogravimetric analysis of face mask waste: Kinetic analysis via iso-conversional methods

et al. 2023

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The surge of face mask waste in response to the global pandemic has proven to be a liability to the environment. Microfibers from plastic constituents of the face mask would cause microplastic pollution in the water bodies. Fortunately, these waste could be converted into renewable source of energy via thermochemical method, i.e. pyrolysis. However, the studies on the thermal decomposition of face masks and their kinetic mechanisms are not well-established. The aim of this paper focuses on the prospects of pyrolysis at low to high heating rates ranging from 10 °C min-1 to 100 °C min-1, to cater for the slow pyrolysis and fast pyrolysis modes. Following this, the thermal degradation behaviour of the face mask waste was studied via thermogravimetric analysis which determined the single peak temperature degradation range at 218 to 424 °C at 10 °C min-1, and maximum degradation rate was determined at 172.51 wt.% min-1 at 520 °C, with heating rate of 100 °C min-1. Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Starink method was employed to determine the average activation energy and average pre-exponential factor of the pyrolysis process of face mask waste. i.e., 41.31 kJ mol-1 and 0.9965, 10.43 kJ mol-1 and 0.9901 for FWO and Starink method, respectively.

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Section: Tga Resultssupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermogravimetric analysis of face mask waste: Kinetic analysis via iso-conversional methods

et al. 2023

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“…The onset temperature of decomposition was estimated to vary insignificantly depending on the inertness of the ambient-both samples of protective masks started to decompose at 310 ± 2 • C temperature and degraded completely at a temperature of up to 516 ± 2 • C. Temperature points at which the weight loss rate (DTG) was the highest were also closely similar when comparing both feedstocks, i.e., it was equal to 467 ± 1 • C in inert and 450 • C in the ambient with steam. Similar results were obtained by A. Nawaz & P. Kumar [26], who published that 3-ply protective face masks degradation onset was at higher than 300 • C temperature with the greatest decomposition rate at 456 • C when the applied heating rate during pyrolysis was 20 • C/min. These temperature points of thermal degradation are known to be specific to polypropylene [27].…”

Section: The Influence Of Gasification Temperature On Gases Formationsupporting

confidence: 88%

Syngas Production from Protective Face Masks through Pyrolysis/Steam Gasification

et al. 2023

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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a heavy expansion of plastic pollution due to the extensive use of personal protective equipment (PPE) worldwide. To avoid problems related to the entrance of these wastes into the environment, proper management of the disposal is required. Here, the steam gasification/pyrolysis technique offers a reliable solution for the utilization of such wastes via chemical recycling into value-added products. The aim was to estimate the effect of thermo-chemical conversion temperature and steam-to-carbon ratio on the distribution of gaseous products obtained during non-catalytic steam gasification of 3-ply face masks and KN95 respirators in a fluidized bed reactor. Experimental results have revealed that the process temperature has a major influence on the composition of gases evolved. The production of syngas was significantly induced by temperature elevation from 700 °C to 800 °C. The highest molar concentration of H2 gases synthesized from both types of face masks was estimated at 800 °C with the steam-to-carbon ratio varying from 0 to 2. A similar trend of production was also determined for CO gases. Therefore, investigated thermochemical conversion process is a feasible route for the conversion of used face masks to valuable a product such as syngas.

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“…The high viscosity of biooil from FFP2 masks has a negative influence on fluidity, which, for example, may cause engine damage during combustion and difficulty in the transportation in pipelines due to the friction against the pipe walls that, in addition, can result in more pumping power consumption [57]. Regarding density, both surgical and FFP2 masks provided densities between 790 and 800 kg/m 3 , similar to diesel and gasoline fuel [28]. Furthermore, the pH of the biooil samples was 6.00.…”

Section: Characterization Of Liquid Fractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of PPE waste, some previous studies have reported the valorization by pyrolysis of different types of PPE, including PPE components [20,21], complete PPE [22,23], combinations of different PPE, such as face masks and gloves [24], or co-pyrolysis of PPE and other type of waste, such as food waste [25]. Some studies have performed experiments in thermobalance and have obtained kinetic parameters for different masks [26][27][28]. Other authors have also conducted computer simulations for the thermal conversion of face masks by pyrolysis [27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the Products of the Catalytic Pyrolysis of Discarded COVID-19 Masks over Sepiolite

Ortega

Martín-Lara

Pula³

et al. 2023

Applied Sciences

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This research aims to develop a new strategy to valorize wasted COVID-19 masks based on chemical recycling by pyrolysis to convert them into useful products. First, surgical and filtering face piece masks, as defined in Europe by the EN 149 standard (FFP2), were thermally pyrolyzed at temperatures of 450, 500, and 550 °C, and the yields of valuable solid (biochar), liquid (biooil), and syngas products and their characteristics were determined. At low temperatures, biochar formation was favored over biooil and syngas production, while at high temperatures the syngas product yield was enhanced. The highest yield of biooil was found at a pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C, with both surgical and FFP2 masks achieving biooil yields of 59.08% and 58.86%, respectively. Then, the pyrolysis experiments were performed at 500 °C in a two-stage pyrolysis catalytic reactor using sepiolite as a catalyst. Sepiolite was characterized using nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that the two-stage process increased the final yield of syngas product (43.89% against 39.52% for surgical masks and 50.53% against 39.41% for FFP2 masks). Furthermore, the composition of the biooils significantly changed, increasing the amount of 2,4-Dimethyl-1-heptene and other olefins, such as 3-Eicosene, (E)-, and 5-Eicosene, (E)-. Additionally, the methane and carbon dioxide content of the syngas product also increased in the two-stage experiments. Ultimately, the effect of sepiolite regeneration for its use in consecutive pyrolysis tests was examined. Characterization data showed that, the higher the use-regeneration of sepiolite, the higher the modification of textural properties, with mainly higher changes in its pore volume. The results indicated that the pyrolysis of face masks can be a good source of valuable products (especially from biooil and syngas products).

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Thermal degradation of hazardous 3-layered COVID-19 face mask through pyrolysis: Kinetic, thermodynamic, prediction modelling using ANN and volatile product characterization

Cited by 30 publications

References 64 publications

Thermogravimetric analysis of face mask waste: Kinetic analysis via iso-conversional methods

Thermogravimetric analysis of face mask waste: Kinetic analysis via iso-conversional methods

Syngas Production from Protective Face Masks through Pyrolysis/Steam Gasification

Characterization of the Products of the Catalytic Pyrolysis of Discarded COVID-19 Masks over Sepiolite

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