We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Tunable and Biodegradable Poly(Ester Amide)s for Disposable Facemasks
ClearTuneable and biodegradable poly(ester amide)s for disposable facemasks
Scientists developed biodegradable face mask filters made from novel bio-based poly(ester amide) polymers that fully degrade within 35 days. The filters matched the particle capture efficiency and breathability of commercial mask filters, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to standard disposable masks that contribute to microplastic pollution.
Antiviral/antibacterial biodegradable cellulose nonwovens as environmentally friendly and bioprotective materials with potential to minimize microplastic pollution
Biodegradable cellulose nonwoven materials incorporating antiviral and antibacterial agents were developed as a sustainable alternative to polypropylene face masks, demonstrating comparable filtration performance with significantly faster environmental degradation, reducing the microplastic pollution burden of disposable PPE.
Biodegradable Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes as Promising Candidates for the Development of Face Masks
This review examines the development of biodegradable electrospun nanofiber membranes as alternatives to conventional plastic face masks. Researchers summarize progress on materials including silk fibroin, polylactic acid, chitosan, cellulose, and zein, which can achieve strong filtration performance. The study highlights that degradable nanofiber filters offer a promising solution to reduce the environmental burden of plastic pollution from disposable face masks.
Characterization and Filtration Efficiency of Sustainable PLA Fibers Obtained via a Hybrid 3D-Printed/Electrospinning Technique
Researchers developed biodegradable polylactide (PLA) filter fibers using a hybrid 3D printing and electrospinning technique, intended as a sustainable alternative to single-use synthetic mask filters. The PLA filters showed acceptable filtration performance. Replacing petroleum-based filter materials with biodegradable ones could reduce the plastic pollution burden from pandemic-era personal protective equipment.
Fabrication of microplastic-free biomass-based masks: Enhanced multi-functionality with all-natural fibers
Researchers developed a new biodegradable face mask made entirely from natural plant and animal fibers, eliminating the microplastic shedding associated with conventional disposable masks. The mask achieved 95.9% filtration efficiency, strong antibacterial performance against common bacteria, and could even detect ammonia levels in breath for health monitoring. This microplastic-free design offers a more sustainable alternative to standard surgical masks.
Nanocellulose-based membrane as a potential material for high performance biodegradable aerosol respirators for SARS-CoV-2 prevention: a review
Researchers reviewed nanocellulose-based membrane materials as biodegradable alternatives to synthetic face mask filters, finding that cellulose nanofibers and nanocrystals offer promising filtration efficiency, biocompatibility, and environmental safety compared to single-use plastic-based respirators.
Face masks and respirators: Towards sustainable materials and technologies to overcome the shortcomings and challenges
This review examines the limitations of current face masks and respirators, including low filtration efficiency and non-biodegradability, and explores sustainable materials and emerging technologies such as nanofibers and biodegradable polymers to address these shortcomings.
Needleless electrospun phytochemicals encapsulated nanofibre based 3-ply biodegradable mask for combating COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers developed a three-layer biodegradable face mask combining cotton outer layers with a polylactic acid nanofibrous filtration layer infused with plant-derived antimicrobials, achieving 97.9% bacterial filtration efficiency and demonstrating biodegradation in a microbial slurry — offering a potential eco-friendly alternative to single-use synthetic masks.
Pilot-Scale Melt Electrospinning of Polybutylene Succinate Fiber Mats for a Biobased and Biodegradable Face Mask
Researchers demonstrated pilot-scale melt electrospinning of polybutylene succinate fibers as small as 1.7 micrometers for biodegradable face masks, showing that post-processing with hot air created nonwoven structures suitable as biobased alternatives to petroleum-derived filter layers.
Development of reusable cloth mask with nanoparticle filtration efficiency greater than 95%
Researchers developed a reusable cloth mask with nanoparticle filtration efficiency greater than 95%, motivated by the environmental concerns of single-use surgical and respirator masks that shed microplastic fibers, evaluating the novel mask material's filtration performance against respiratory droplets and particulates.
Microplastics/nanoplastics released from facemasks as contaminants of emerging concern
This review examines how disposable facemasks, made primarily from polypropylene and polyethylene, release microplastics and nanoplastics into the environment. Chemical, physical, and biological processes break down discarded masks into tiny plastic particles that persist in ecosystems. Given the billions of masks used during COVID-19, this represents a significant and growing source of microplastic pollution.
Bio-based electrospun polyamide membrane – sustainable multipurpose filter membranes for microplastic filtration
Researchers created electrospun membranes from bio-based polyamide that can effectively filter microplastics from both water and air. The study found that these nonwoven membranes also work well for cleaning up oily wastewater. The findings suggest a sustainable, multipurpose filtration solution made from renewable materials.
ZnO-PLLA/PLLA Preparation and Application in Air Filtration by Electrospinning Technology
Researchers developed biodegradable ZnO-PLLA/PLLA composite fiber films using electrospinning for air filtration, producing an effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional disposable mask materials.
ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ БІОРОЗКЛАДНИХ ПОЛІМЕРІВ ПРИ ВИГОТОВЛЕННІ НЕКТАНИХ ФІЛЬТРУВАЛЬНИХ МАТЕРІАЛІВ
Researchers successfully produced nonwoven filter materials from polylactic acid (PLA) using melt-blown technology originally designed for polypropylene, finding that PLA fibers had a 10% smaller average diameter and similar filtration performance to PP materials. This is relevant to microplastic research because biodegradable PLA-based filters could replace conventional plastic filter materials that themselves generate microplastic pollution.
Mechanical characterizations of waste face masks reinforced polyester composites: Recycling wastes into resources
Researchers explored recycling discarded face masks into composite materials by combining shredded mask fibers with polyester resin. The resulting composites showed promising mechanical strength comparable to natural fiber alternatives, suggesting that waste face masks could be repurposed rather than ending up as microplastic pollution in the environment.
COVID-19 disposable face masks: a precursor for synthesis of valuable bioproducts
Researchers proposed converting pandemic-era disposable face masks — made from thermoplastic polymers such as polypropylene — into valuable bioproducts through chemical or biological upcycling, framing mask waste management as both an environmental and secondary biosafety challenge requiring urgent circular-economy solutions.
Enhanced Filtration Efficiency of Natural Materials with the Addition of Electrospun Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) Fibres
Researchers developed enhanced air filtration materials by combining natural fibers with electrospun PVDF-HFP nanofibers, achieving improved particulate filtration efficiency while reducing reliance on single-use plastic masks that contribute to environmental pollution.
High‐Dielectric‐Constant and Biodegradable Fiber Membrane for High‐Efficiency and Low‐Resistance Air Purification by the Interfacial Polarization Enhancement†
Researchers developed a biodegradable fiber membrane made from silk fibroin and wool that achieves 99.69% filtration efficiency for fine particulate matter while maintaining very low air resistance. The membrane uses an interface polarization strategy to enhance its filtration performance and can be completely degraded in soil within 14 days after alkaline treatment. The study offers a solution that simultaneously addresses air purification needs and avoids generating microplastic pollution from conventional synthetic filters.
Electrospun nanofiber-based respiratory face masks—a review
Researchers reviewed advances in face mask materials during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on electrospun nanofiber membranes with nano-sized pores that offer high filtration efficiency at low weight, and highlighting the integration of metal-organic frameworks, graphene, and 3D-printing as pathways to multifunctional and reusable mask designs.
Simulation of the Long-Term Ageing of Polypropylene-Made Disposable Surgical Masks and Filtering Facepiece Respirators
Researchers artificially aged polypropylene surgical masks under simulated environmental conditions and modeled their long-term oxidative degradation, finding that mask polymers undergo progressive fragmentation that will generate microplastics for years to decades after disposal in the environment.
Kinetic characteristics of microplastic release from commonly used masks in aquatic environment
Researchers tested four mask types (normal, fashion, N95, and disposable surgical) by exposing them to simulated natural water environments over 12 months at 3-month intervals to characterize the kinetics of microplastic release. They found time-dependent release patterns that varied by mask construction, documenting structural degradation and quantifying microplastic fiber shedding as a function of duration, with implications for environmental risk assessment of pandemic-related mask pollution.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Amount of Plastic Waste and Alternative Materials in the Context of the Circular Economy
This study examined biodegradable alternatives to polypropylene for personal protective equipment like face masks, which generated enormous amounts of plastic waste during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers tested a biodegradable nonwoven fabric and confirmed it was not toxic to cells and could break down over time. The work addresses the growing concern that discarded masks and PPE are a significant source of microplastic pollution in the environment.
Protein‐Based Face Mask with High SARS‐CoV‐2 Neutralization Ability and Breathability
This paper describes the development of a protein-based face mask designed to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 by capturing spike proteins. It is not about microplastics and is not relevant to microplastic research.
Development of a Layer Made of Natural Fibers to Improve the Ecological Performance of the Face Mask Type II
This study developed a natural nonwoven layer made from flax and cotton fibers to replace one of the three polypropylene layers in medical face masks. Replacing synthetic polymer layers in single-use masks reduces the amount of polypropylene microplastics released when discarded masks degrade in the environment.