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. 2023;1(1):12.
doi: 10.1007/s44242-023-00010-w. Epub 2023 Apr 4.

Thermochemical recycling of waste disposable facemasks in a non-electrically powered system

Kingsley O Iwuozor  1 , Ebuka Chizitere Emenike  1 , Agbana Abiodun Stephen  2 , Otoikhian Shegun Kevin  3 , Joy Adeleke  2 , Adewale George Adeniyi  2   4
Affiliations

Thermochemical recycling of waste disposable facemasks in a non-electrically powered system

Kingsley O Iwuozor et al. Low Carbon Mater Green Constr. 2023.

Abstract
in English, Chinese

The COVID-19 pandemic encouraged the use of plastic-based personal protective equipment (PPE), which aided greatly in its management. However, the increased production and usage of these PPEs put a strain on the environment, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. This has led various researchers to study low-cost and effective technologies for the recycling of these materials. One such material is disposable facemasks. However, previous studies have only been able to engage electrically powered reactors for their thermochemical conversion, which is a challenge as these reactors cannot be used in regions with an insufficient supply of electricity. In this study, the authors utilized a biomass-powered reactor for the conversion of waste disposable facemasks and almond leaves into hybrid biochar. The reactor, which is relatively cheap, simple to use, environmentally friendly, and modified for biochar production, is biomass-powered. The co-carbonization process, which lasted 100 min, produced a 46% biochar yield, which is higher than previously obtained biochar yields by other researchers. The biochar thus obtained was characterized to determine its properties. FTIR analysis showed that the biochar contained functional groups such as alkenes, alkynes, hydroxyls, amines, and carbonyls. The EDX analysis revealed that the biochar was primarily made of carbon, tellurium, oxygen, and calcium in the ratios of 57%, 19%, 9%, and 7%, respectively. The inclusion of the facemask decreased the surface area and porosity of the biochar material, as evidenced by its surface area and pore characteristics.

2019年新冠病毒肆虐，为更好的防护和疫情管理，人们使用了大量的塑料基个人防护用品 (PPE) 。然而，大量生产和使用个人防护用品给环境 造成巨大的压力，特别对发展中国家和不发达国家。因此，许多科研人员研究如何有效且低成本回收这些废弃材料的 技术，例如针对一次性口罩。以前的研究聚焦于使用电力反应堆进行热化学转换，然而这些反应堆不能在电力供应不 足的地区使用。在本文中，作者利用生物质动力反应器将废弃的一次性口罩和杏树叶转化为混合生物炭。该反应器由 生物质提供燃料动力，相对便宜、使用简单、环保，并可经过改造后制备生物炭。持续100分钟的共同燃烧碳化过程可 得到46%的生物炭产率，高于其他研究人员获得的生物炭产率。随后，对得到的生物炭进行表征以确定其性能。红外光 谱分析表明，生物炭中含有烯烃、炔烃、羟基、胺、羰基等官能团。能量色散X射线光谱分析表明，生物炭主要由碳、 碲、氧和钙组成，其含量分别为57%、19%、9%和7%。加入废弃的一次性口罩共同燃烧制备生物炭，能有效降低制备 而成的生物炭材料的表面积和孔隙率。.

Keywords: Biochar; Biomass, Covid-19; Facemask; Thermochemical conversion.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors affirm that there are no conflicts of interest in this research work.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A schematic diagram of the reactor used in this study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Temperature profile graphs of ALB and ALFB
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
FTIR spectra of ALB and ALFB
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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