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Environmentally sustainable toughened nanocomposites based on recycled face masks and nitrile gloves
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Researchers developed a recycling pathway for pandemic-era single-use plastics by extracting polypropylene from discarded face masks and rubber from nitrile gloves, reinforcing them with nanoclay to create high-performance nanocomposites with improved tensile strength, thermal stability, and compatibility with 3D printing.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left a lasting environmental footprint, especially through the surge of single-use biomedical plastics such as disposable facemasks and nitrile gloves. Their improper disposal has created a new source of non-biodegradable waste, which fragments into microplastics and poses ecological and health hazards. This study establishes a sustainable recycling pathway by extracting polypropylene (PP) from discarded facemasks and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) from used gloves, and reinforcing them with Cloisite nanoclay to develop toughened nanocomposites. The incorporation of nanoclay significantly enhanced tensile strength, hardness, dielectric performance, and thermal stability, with optimum properties achieved at a 3.5% (by wt) loading. Structural and morphological investigations using FTIR, TGA, SEM, and AFM confirmed improved interfacial adhesion, uniform filler dispersion, and suppression of phase separation at this level. Beyond 3.5% (by wt) nanoclay, agglomeration effects reduced mechanical efficiency. The multifunctional nature of these composites makes them attractive for tribological applications, electrical insulation, and lightweight structural uses. Additionally, their compatibility with extrusion-based additive manufacturing provides scalability and adaptability to 3D printing of durable, customized components. This dual achievement of biomedical waste valorization and high-performance material development demonstrates a cleaner production strategy aligned with circular economy principles. Overall, the work not only offers a feasible solution to pandemic-related waste management but also establishes a pathway for developing sustainable, high-value nanocomposites with industrial relevance.
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Characterization, toxicity evaluation, and mitigation strategy of micro/nanoplastics released from face masks
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Researchers characterized microplastic and nanoplastic particles released from face mask fabrics under mechanical stress, demonstrated developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos, and developed an iron chloride coagulation method to remove these particles from water. The study reveals that disposable face masks — widely used during COVID-19 — are an underrecognized source of micro- and nanoplastics that enter aquatic environments and pose early-life developmental risks.
Facemask and PPE (COVID-19)-Associated Micro- and Nanoplastic Wastes—Study of Cause and Effect
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Researchers investigate how the surge in single-use face masks and personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic became a significant new source of micro- and nanoplastic pollution, tracing the environmental pathways from widespread PPE disposal to contamination of ecosystems.
Nanobiotechnology for Reducing Plastic Footprint and Combatting Micro and Nano-plastic Pollution
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Researchers reviewed how nanobiotechnology approaches — including engineered nanomaterials, nano-enabled filtration, and bioremediation systems — can detect, degrade, and remove micro and nanoplastics from the environment, offering scalable strategies to reduce global plastic pollution and its associated ecosystem and human health risks.
Sustainable alternatives to microplastics from degradable polymer microparticles
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Researchers demonstrated that biodegradable poly(beta-amino ester) microparticles can replace conventional microplastics in personal care products, showing effective skin exfoliation performance while degrading under physiological conditions, offering a scalable and environmentally safer alternative to synthetic plastic microbeads.
Influence of carbon nanomaterials on microplastic release from polymer composites
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Plastics are increasingly blended with carbon-based materials like graphene and carbon nanotubes to make them stronger, but this review of existing research finds that these additives can either reduce or worsen the shedding of microplastics, tiny plastic particles now found in our air, water, and even our bodies, depending on the specific materials and conditions involved. Because results vary so much between studies, scientists don't yet have a clear answer on whether these popular high-tech plastics are safer or riskier for microplastic exposure, highlighting the need for standardized testing before we can know their true impact on human health.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.