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Kim JY, Park J, Lee DJ, Choi YB, Kwon EE. Sustainable management of medical plastic waste through carbon dioxide-assisted pyrolysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 364:143266. [PMID: 39241841 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
To address the challenges associated with medical plastic waste and to characterize its heterogeneity, non-recyclability, and potential biohazard risks, this study explored a carbon dioxide (CO2)-assisted pyrolysis process as a sustainable disposal method. Medical plastic waste typically includes polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride. To experimentally evaluate the functional reactivity of CO2, we employed three pyrolysis setups (one-stage, two-stage, and catalytic processes). The technical advantages of using CO2 over inert gases such as nitrogen (N2) were demonstrated through pyrolysis tests. The results showed that energy production was enhanced under CO2 conditions, with catalytic pyrolysis generating 146% more flammable gases compared to pyrolysis in an N2 environment. The use of CO2 also led to a reduction in the formation of toxic chemicals due to improved thermal cracking. The CO2-assisted pyrolysis process exhibited net negative CO2 emissions when a catalyst was present, as a substantial amount of CO2 was consumed during the process. In conclusion, CO2-assisted pyrolysis of medical plastic waste offers a sustainable management solution that maximizes the utilization of carbon resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee Young Kim
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghyun Park
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Jun Lee
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea; Department of Animal Environment, National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Wanju, 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye-Bin Choi
- Department of Animal Environment, National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Wanju, 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Eilhann E Kwon
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
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Lyu L, Bagchi M, Markoglou N, An C, Peng H, Bi H, Yang X, Sun H. Towards environmentally sustainable management: A review on the generation, degradation, and recycling of polypropylene face mask waste. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132566. [PMID: 37742382 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
There has been a considerable increase in the use of face masks in the past years. Managing face mask waste has become a global concern, as the current waste management system is insufficient to deal with such a large quantity of solid waste. The drastic increase in quantity, along with the material's inability to degrade plastic components such as polypropylene, has led to a large accumulation of plastic waste, causing a series of environmental and ecological challenges. In addition, the growing use also imposes pressure on waste management methods such as landfill and incineration, raising concerns about high energy consumption, low value-added utilization, and the release of additional pollutants during the process. This article initially reviews the impact of mask-related plastic waste generation and degradation behavior in the natural environment. It then provides an overview of various recently developed methods for recycling face mask plastic waste. The article also offers forward-looking strategies and recommendations on face mask plastic waste management. The review aims to provide guidance on harnessing the complexities of mask waste and other medical plastic pollution issues, as well as improving the current waste management system's deficiencies and inefficiencies in tackling the growing plastic waste problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxiang Lyu
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Monisha Bagchi
- Department Research and Development, Meltech Innovation Canada Inc., Medicom Group, Pointe-Claire, QC H9P 2Z2, Canada
| | - Nektaria Markoglou
- Department Research and Development, Meltech Innovation Canada Inc., Medicom Group, Pointe-Claire, QC H9P 2Z2, Canada
| | - Chunjiang An
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada.
| | - He Peng
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Huifang Bi
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Huijuan Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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Tian R, Li K, Lin Y, Lu C, Duan X. Characterization Techniques of Polymer Aging: From Beginning to End. Chem Rev 2023; 123:3007-3088. [PMID: 36802560 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Polymers have been widely applied in various fields in the daily routines and the manufacturing. Despite the awareness of the aggressive and inevitable aging for the polymers, it still remains a challenge to choose an appropriate characterization strategy for evaluating the aging behaviors. The difficulties lie in the fact that the polymer features from the different aging stages require different characterization methods. In this review, we present an overview of the characterization strategies preferable for the initial, accelerated, and late stages during polymer aging. The optimum strategies have been discussed to characterize the generation of radicals, variation of functional groups, substantial chain scission, formation of low-molecular products, and deterioration in the polymers' macro-performances. In view of the advantages and the limitations of these characterization techniques, their utilization in a strategic approach is considered. In addition, we highlight the structure-property relationship for the aged polymers and provide available guidance for lifetime prediction. This review could allow the readers to be knowledgeable of the features for the polymers in the different aging stages and provide access to choose the optimum characterization techniques. We believe that this review will attract the communities dedicated to materials science and chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Kaitao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yanjun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- School of Chemical Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Chao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xue Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
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Nguyen TA, Lim HM, Kinashi K, Sakai W, Tsutsumi N, Okubayashi S, Hosoda S, Sato T. Spin Trapping Analysis of Radical Intermediates on the Thermo-Oxidative Degradation of Polypropylene. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 15:200. [PMID: 36616549 PMCID: PMC9824095 DOI: 10.3390/polym15010200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the thermo-oxidative degradation behavior of polypropylene (PP) by comparing three types of pristine PP granules (consisting of homopolymer, random copolymer, and block copolymer) with their corresponding oxidized analogues. These analogues were intensely oxidized under oxygen at 90 °C for 1000 h by using the electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping method that can detect short-lived radical intermediates during the degradation. The degrees of oxidation could be evaluated by chemiluminescence (CL) intensity, which was related to the concentration of hydroperoxide groups generated in the PP chain. In the pristine PP samples, a small amount of hydroperoxides were found to be formed unintentionally, and their homolysis produces alkoxy radicals, RO•, which then undergo β-scission to yield chain-end aldehydes or chain-end ketones. These oxidation products continue to take part in homolysis to produce their respective carbonyl and carbon radicals. On the other hand, in the oxidized PP granules, because of their much higher hydroperoxide concentration, the two-stage cage reaction and the bimolecular decomposition of hydroperoxides are energetically favorable. Carbonyl compounds are formed in both reactions, which are then homolyzed to form the carbonyl radical species, •C(O)-. PP homopolymer produced the largest amount of carbonyl radical spin adduct; thus, it was found that the homopolymer is most sensitive to oxygen attack, and the presence of ethylene units in copolymers enhances the oxidation resistance of PP copolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thu Anh Nguyen
- Doctor's Program of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Hui Ming Lim
- Undergraduate School of Applied Chemistry, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Kenji Kinashi
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Wataru Sakai
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Naoto Tsutsumi
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Satoko Okubayashi
- Faculty of Fiber Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Satoru Hosoda
- Graduate School of Science & Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Tetsu Sato
- Tohoku Electronic Industrial Co., Ltd., Mukaiyama 2-14-1, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0841, Japan
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Kurima A, Kinashi K, Sakai W, Tsutsumi N. Spin-Trapping Analysis of the Thermal Degradation Reaction of Polyamide 66. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14214748. [PMID: 36365740 PMCID: PMC9653835 DOI: 10.3390/polym14214748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The radical mechanisms of the thermal degradation of polyamide 66 (PA66) occurring under a vacuum at a temperature range between 80 °C and 240 °C (which includes the temperature of practical applications) were investigated using a spin-trapping electron spin resonance (ST-ESR) technique, as well as FTIR, TG-DTA, and GPC methods. No significant weight loss and no sign of thermal degradation are observed at this temperature range under oxygen-free conditions, but a slight production of secondary amine groups is confirmed by FTIR. GPC analysis shows a small degradation by the main chain scission. ST-ESR analysis reveals two intermediate radicals which are produced in the thermal degradation of PA66: (a) a ●CH2− radical generated by main chain scission and (b) a −●CH− radical generated by hydrogen abstraction from the methylene group of the main chain. The ST-ESR result does not directly confirm that a −NH−●CH− radical is produced, although this reaction has been previously inferred as the initiation reaction of the thermal degradation of PA; however, the presence of −●CH− radicals strongly suggests the occurrence of this initiation reaction, which takes place on the α-carbon next to the NH group. The ST-ESR analysis reveals very small levels of reaction, which cannot be observed by common analytical methods such as FTIR and NMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Kurima
- Doctor’s Program of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
- Platform Laboratory for Science & Technology, Asahi-Kasei Corporation, Moriyama City 524-0002, Japan
| | - Kenji Kinashi
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Wataru Sakai
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-75-724-7818
| | - Naoto Tsutsumi
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
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