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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Upcycling discarded cellulosic surgical masks into catalytically active freestanding materials
ClearWaste Surgical Masks as Precursors of Activated Carbon: A Circular Economy Approach to Mitigate the Impact of Microplastics and Emerging Dye Contaminants
Waste surgical masks were converted into activated carbon materials through pyrolysis, demonstrating a circular approach for handling the surge in disposable mask waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Repurposing mask waste as functional carbon avoids its fragmentation into microplastics 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.
Waste Face Surgical Mask Transformation into Crude Oil and Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers
Researchers developed a novel valorization process to convert waste surgical face masks into crude oil via pyrolysis and nanostructured carbon electrocatalysts for use in fuel cells and electrolyzers, demonstrating a dual-value approach to managing the large volumes of pandemic-generated plastic medical waste.
Disposal and resource utilization of waste masks: a review
Researchers reviewed current methods for disposing of and repurposing waste face masks — including mechanical recycling, catalytic pyrolysis for hydrogen production, and solvent-based dissolution — identifying solvent-based approaches as especially promising for converting mask polypropylene into multifunctional materials.
Upcycling of face masks to application-rich multi- and single-walled carbon nanotubes
Disposable face masks from the COVID-19 pandemic were converted into high-value single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes through a thermal upcycling process. The resulting nanotubes showed properties suitable for use in electronics and materials applications. This approach demonstrates a path for converting pandemic plastic waste into advanced materials rather than landfill.
Conversion of Waste Surgical Mask Into Energy Rich Oil by Pyrolysis Using Fly Ash as Catalyst
This study converted waste surgical masks — a major COVID-19 pandemic plastic waste problem — into energy-rich oil through catalytic pyrolysis using fly ash as a catalyst and food waste-derived biogas as the heat source. The approach offers a way to recover energy from the massive volumes of polypropylene mask waste generated during the pandemic.
Reutilizing Single-Use Surgical Face Masks to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Concrete: A Feasibility Study
Researchers investigated reutilizing single-use surgical face masks as a material to improve the mechanical properties of construction or composite materials. The study demonstrates a potential upcycling pathway for pandemic-generated mask waste, converting a pollution problem into a resource.
Repurposing Face Masks after Use: From Wastes to Anode Materials for Na-Ion Batteries
Disposable face masks from the COVID-19 pandemic were repurposed as a carbon source for sodium-ion battery anodes through pyrolysis. Both surgical and FFP2 mask types produced hard carbons with electrochemical properties suitable for energy storage. This approach offers a sustainable path for handling pandemic-generated plastic waste by converting it into functional materials.
Mechanical Recycling of Disposable Protective Masks
Disposable face masks — a major source of pandemic-era plastic waste — were mechanically recycled through extrusion to assess whether their polypropylene layers retain useful material properties. The study found that mechanical recycling had only minor effects on thermal properties, suggesting masks could be diverted from landfill and reprocessed into raw material, reducing the chance that mask fibers fragment into environmental microplastics.
Synthesis and characterization of microparticles from artificial medical mask waste by freeze-drying method
Researchers synthesized and characterized microparticles from medical mask waste using a freeze-drying method, transforming discarded surgical mask material into reusable microparticulate matter. The study addressed the surge in pandemic-related mask waste and its contribution to environmental microplastic pollution by proposing a waste valorization pathway for mask-derived plastic fragments.
Study of Recycling Potential of FFP2 Face Masks and Characterization of the Plastic Mix-Material Obtained. A Way of Reducing Waste in Times of Covid-19
Researchers showed that FFP2 face masks can be mechanically recycled without pre-sorting their composite materials, producing a polymer blend with thermal and mechanical properties comparable to recycled polypropylene — offering a practical route to divert pandemic mask waste from the environment.
Facemasks and ferrous metallurgy: improving gasification reactivity of low-volatile coals using waste COVID-19 facemasks for ironmaking application
Researchers developed a method to grind waste COVID-19 facemasks into powder by melting them with coal dust, finding the mixture significantly improved the combustion efficiency of low-quality coal — offering a potential solution for recycling billions of discarded plastic masks through industrial steelmaking furnaces.
Waste-based nanoarchitectonics with face masks as valuable starting material for high-performance supercapacitors
Researchers carbonized and KOH-activated surgical face mask waste to create microporous carbon electrode materials with surface areas of 460-969 square meters per gram for use in supercapacitors. The approach converts a major COVID-19 waste stream that releases microplastic fibers during environmental degradation into a high-value energy storage material.
Recycling of disposable single-use face masks to mitigate microfiber pollution
Researchers mechanically recycled discarded disposable face masks into polypropylene-cotton blended fabrics, demonstrating an 83% reduction in microfiber release across the product lifecycle compared to masks, though complete elimination of fiber shedding was not achievable due to the inherent properties of textile materials.
Synthesis of Sulfonated Carbon from Discarded Masks for Effective Production of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural
Researchers developed a two-step synthesis method using discarded face masks as a feedstock — combining mechanochemical ball milling with thermal carbonization under nitrogen — to produce sulfonated carbon solid acid catalysts that effectively catalyze conversion of biomass to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, a key platform chemical for biobased plastics and fuels.
Recycling of Polymer Components From Waste Face Masks for Asphalt Modification: A Mini Review
Polymer components recovered from waste face masks (a major source of plastic waste since the COVID-19 pandemic) were recycled and incorporated into new materials. The study supports developing circular recycling pathways for the large volume of disposable mask plastic that otherwise risks fragmenting into microplastics.
Syngas Production from Protective Face Masks through Pyrolysis/Steam Gasification
This study explores converting discarded COVID-era face masks into syngas through steam gasification, offering a chemical recycling route for a massive new plastic waste stream. At 800 °C, both 3-ply surgical masks and KN95 respirators produced high yields of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The approach could help prevent mask plastics from entering the environment while recovering usable fuel gas.
Charting a path to catalytic upcycling of plastic micro/nano fiber pollution from textiles to produce carbon nanomaterials and turquoise hydrogen
Researchers demonstrated proof-of-concept for catalytic upcycling of polyester and cotton textile-derived microfibers into structured solid carbon products, using a defined fiber feedstock to establish a pathway for converting fiber pollution into value-added carbon materials.
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.
Single-use surgical face masks, as a potential source of microplastics: Do they act as pollutant carriers?
Researchers investigated whether single-use surgical face masks, widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, are a potential source of microplastic fibers released into the environment. The study found that used masks entering uncontrolled waste streams can shed fibrous microplastics.
From waste to energy: luminescent solar concentrators based on carbon dots derived from surgical facemasks
Researchers converted discarded surgical face masks into carbon dots and used them to fabricate luminescent solar concentrators, achieving a solar-to-energy conversion efficiency of 6.1% while diverting pandemic-era plastic waste from landfills.
Preparing Fuel-Range Chemicals via the Direct and Selective Pyrolysis of Disposable Mask Waste for Sustainable Environment
Chemical pyrolysis of disposable facemask waste converts the polypropylene and polyamide components into high-value fuel-range chemicals including liquid hydrocarbon blends, aromatics, and C1-5 gas alkanes, offering a strategy to address mask-generated microplastic pollution while producing sustainable fuels.
Sustainable Solution for Plastic Pollution: Upcycling Waste Polypropylene Masks for Effective Oil-Spill Management
Researchers synthesized an oil-sorbent pouch from waste polypropylene face masks using spin coating to create microporous and fibrous thin films, demonstrating effective oil-spill cleanup performance. Upcycling pandemic waste polypropylene into functional oil-absorbent materials addresses both the surge in mask waste and the environmental problem of plastic-derived microplastics.
Property assessment of an eco-friendly mortar reinforced with recycled mask fiber derived from COVID-19 single-use face masks
Researchers developed an eco-friendly mortar reinforced with recycled polypropylene fibers from COVID-19 single-use face masks, demonstrating a practical approach to repurposing pandemic waste while reducing environmental microplastic contamination.