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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Detection Methods Environmental Sources Sign in to save

Current plastics pollution threats due to COVID-19 and its possible mitigation techniques: a waste-to-energy conversion via Pyrolysis

ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 2021 161 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Bassazin Ayalew Mekonnen, Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Bassazin Ayalew Mekonnen, Bassazin Ayalew Mekonnen, Bassazin Ayalew Mekonnen, Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw Tadele Assefa Aragaw

Summary

Researchers reviewed how the COVID-19 pandemic generated massive amounts of plastic medical waste — including masks and gloves — and found that pyrolysis (heating plastic without oxygen) can convert this waste into usable oil, reducing plastic pollution. This waste-to-energy approach offers a practical path for managing the surge of single-use medical plastics that would otherwise end up in landfills or the environment as microplastics.

It can be concluded that the medical plastics can be recycled into oil due to their thermoplastics nature having high oil content and the waste to energy conversion can potentially reduce the volume of PPE plastic wastes.

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