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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to PID-Controlled Pyrolysis of Medical Mask Waste for Enhanced Alternative Fuel Production
ClearPlastic Waste Management towards Energy Recovery during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Example of Protective Face Mask Pyrolysis
Researchers analyzed the elemental composition and pyrolysis behavior of COVID-19 protective face masks, finding that pyrolysis at 400-900 degrees Celsius could effectively recover energy from pandemic-related plastic waste that overwhelmed conventional waste management systems.
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.
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.
Life-Cycle Assessment of the thermal and catalytic pyrolysis over sepiolite of face masks
Researchers found that pyrolysis of discarded face masks into diesel-substitute oil significantly reduces environmental impact compared to landfilling, with thermal pyrolysis outperforming catalytic approaches using sepiolite across most environmental impact categories.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Thermochemical Conversion of Waste Masks Generated in the EU during COVID-19 Pandemic into Energy Products
Techno-economic analysis of pyrolysis and gasification for processing COVID-19 surgical mask waste found that both approaches can convert mask waste into valuable fuel products, with pyrolysis oil yield of 42.3% and hydrogen-rich syngas yield of 89.7% under optimal conditions.
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.
Study of Energy Valorization of Disposable Masks via Thermochemical Processes: Devolatilization Tests and Simulation Approach
Researchers investigated the thermochemical energy valorization of disposable surgical and FFP2 face masks through pyrolysis and gasification in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed reactor at four temperature levels and three operating conditions, characterizing the produced syngas composition via GC-MS and proposing a hybrid experimental-simulation model for the gasification process.
Agro-residual biomass and disposable protective face mask: a merger for converting waste to plastic-fiber fuel via an integrative carbonization-pelletization framework
Researchers combined hydrothermal carbonization and pelletization to convert surgical face masks blended with agricultural biomass into solid fuel pellets, finding that the resulting composite fuel met quality standards for wood pellets and emitted CO and NOx below occupational safety limits, offering a waste-to-energy pathway for pandemic plastic waste.
Thermogravimetric analysis of face mask waste: Kinetic analysis via iso-conversional methods
Researchers analyzed the thermal decomposition of discarded face masks — which contain plastic microfibers — to evaluate their potential for energy recovery through pyrolysis. The COVID-19 pandemic generated enormous quantities of mask waste, and understanding their thermal behavior can inform strategies for safely processing this new category of plastic waste.
Accumulation of biomedical waste due to COVID-19: Concerns and strategies for effective treatment to control the pandemic
Researchers estimated that India generates approximately 88.5 tonnes of plastic PPE waste per day during COVID-19, with 55% of facemasks disposed of via open burning, and proposed pyrolysis-based energy recovery as a safer alternative to landfilling and uncontrolled incineration.
Current plastics pollution threats due to COVID-19 and its possible mitigation techniques: a waste-to-energy conversion via Pyrolysis
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.
Identification of Face Mask Waste Generation and Processing in Tourist Areas with Thermo-Chemical Process
Researchers assessed face mask waste generation in tourist areas and evaluated thermo-chemical processing as a disposal method, measuring the effectiveness of thermal treatment for reducing pandemic-era mask waste on beaches.
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.
Review of the valorization options for the proper disposal of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers reviewed waste management options for the surge in discarded polypropylene face masks during COVID-19, finding that improper disposal contributes directly to microplastic pollution, and proposing valorization strategies — including energy recovery and material upcycling — tailored to country-level infrastructure and emergency conditions.
Thermal characteristics and combustion reactivity of coronavirus face masks using TG-DTG-MS analysis
Researchers characterized the thermal combustion behavior of new and used COVID-19 face masks using simultaneous thermogravimetric and mass spectrometry analysis, finding that heating rate significantly influences ignition and burnout indices and that masks undergo complex multi-step polymer degradation pathways relevant to evaluating their potential for waste-to-energy conversion.
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.
Waste 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.
Personal protective equipment use during COVID-19 pandemic and associated waste management in households in Sri Lanka
Researchers estimated that COVID-19 PPE use in Sri Lanka generates approximately 88.5 tonnes of plastic waste daily, with 55% of facemasks disposed via open burning at homes, and identified major gaps in PPE waste management infrastructure while proposing pyrolysis-based energy recovery strategies.
Thermochemical recycling of waste disposable facemasks in a non-electrically powered system
A biomass-powered reactor was used to co-pyrolyze waste disposable facemasks with almond leaves, producing 46% biochar yield, higher than electrically powered reactors, providing a low-cost and electricity-independent approach to thermochemical recycling of mask waste.
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.
Low-Pressure Hydrothermal Processing of Disposable Face Masks into Oils
Researchers developed low-pressure hydrothermal processing methods to convert disposable face masks into oils, finding that oil yield and composition varied by feedstock material, particle size, and reaction conditions. With 5.4 million tons of face masks generated annually, converting them to oils offers a potential waste management pathway.
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.
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.
Fate of disposable face masks in high-solids anaerobic digestion: Experimental observations and review of potential environmental implications
Researchers examined the fate of disposable face masks in high-solids anaerobic digestion, finding that masks remained largely intact and released microplastic particles during the digestion process, raising environmental concerns about COVID-19 PPE waste in municipal solid waste streams.