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Manickavasagam G, He C, Lin KYA, Saaid M, Oh WD. Recent advances in catalyst design, performance, and challenges of metal-heteroatom-co-doped biochar as peroxymonosulfate activator for environmental remediation. Environ Res 2024; 252:118919. [PMID: 38631468 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The escalation of global water pollution due to emerging pollutants has gained significant attention. To address this issue, catalytic peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation technology has emerged as a promising treatment approach for effectively decontaminating a wide range of pollutants. Recently, modified biochar has become an increasingly attractive as PMS activator. Metal-heteroatom-co-doped biochar (MH-BC) has emerged as a promising catalyst that can provide enhanced performance over heteroatom-doped and metal-doped biochar due to the synergism between metal and heteroatom in promoting PMS activation. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the fabrication pathways (i.e., internal vs external doping and pre-vs post-modification) and key parameters (i.e., source of precursors, synthesis methods, and synthesis conditions) affecting the performance of MH-BC as PMS activator. Subsequently, an overview of all the possible PMS activation pathways by MH-BC is provided. Subsequently, Also, the detection, identification, and quantification of several reactive species (such as, •OH, SO4•-, O2•-, 1O2, and high valent oxo species) generated in the catalytic PMS system by MH-BC are also evaluated. Lastly, the underlying challenges associated with poor stability, the lack of understanding regarding the interaction between metal and heteroatom during PMS activation and quantification of radicals in multi-ROS system are also deliberated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chao He
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Kun-Yi Andrew Lin
- Department of Environmental Engineering & Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture, National Chung Hsing University, 250, Kuo-Kuang Road, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Analytical and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Mardiana Saaid
- School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Wen-Da Oh
- School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia.
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2
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Li S, Zhang M, Hu H, Guo G, Gong L, Dong L, Xu S, Yao H. Fate of sulfur and chlorine during co-incineration of municipal solid waste and industrial organic solid waste. Sci Total Environ 2024; 920:171040. [PMID: 38369161 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
In China, the co-incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) with industrial organic solid waste (IOSW) is increasingly adopted. Compared with MSW, IOSW contains higher levels of sulfur (S) and chlorine (Cl), presenting significant challenges for controlling S/Cl emissions in MSW incineration plants. In this study, the impact of co-incinerating IOSW was investigated in a 500 t/d incinerator grate, focusing on the emissions and transformation behaviors of S/Cl. IOSW, with a consistent sulfur content of about 0.22 wt% and a more variable chlorine content averaging 0.53 wt%, contains over 40 % organic sulfur and >90 % organic chlorine, higher than in MSW. The results of co-incineration experiments showed that the median SO2 concentration in the flue gas was stable at 50 mg/m3, while HCl concentration decreased initially and then increased as the co-incineration ratio of IOSW rose from 20 % to 40 %. Furthermore, the concentrations of SO2 and HCl were not significantly influenced by wind flow but were positively affected by the rising furnace temperatures. Besides, the co-incineration ratio had minimal impact on sulfur in fly ash before deacidification, primarily derived from the gas stream. However, the (Na + K)/Cl ratio in fly ash progressively increased from 1.5 to 1.9, and the Ca content decreased from 0.35 % to 0.15 % as the co-incineration ratio rose to 40 %, indicating more chlorine migration into the fly ash at higher co-incineration rates. This research offers essential guidance for effectively controlling pollutant emissions during the co-incineration of IOSW, specifically the S/Cl pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Mingmei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hongyun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Guangzhao Guo
- Grandblue (Foshan) Green Electricity Solid Waste Management Co., Ltd, Foshan 528200, China
| | - Lifang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; Grandblue (Foshan) Green Electricity Solid Waste Management Co., Ltd, Foshan 528200, China
| | - Lu Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Sihua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
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Adeoye JB, Tan YH, Lau SY, Tan YY, Chiong T, Mubarak NM, Khalid M. Advanced oxidation and biological integrated processes for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment: A review. J Environ Manage 2024; 353:120170. [PMID: 38308991 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The stress of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) discharging to water bodies and the environment due to increased industrialization has reduced the availability of clean water. This poses a potential health hazard to animals and human life because water contamination is a great issue to the climate, plants, humans, and aquatic habitats. Pharmaceutical compounds are quantified in concentrations ranging from ng/Lto μg/L in aquatic environments worldwide. According to (Alsubih et al., 2022), the concentrations of carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, Lutvastatin, ciprofloxacin, and lorazepam were 616-906 ng/L, 16,532-21635 ng/L, 694-2068 ng/L, 734-1178 ng/L, and 2742-3775 ng/L respectively. Protecting and preserving our environment must be well-driven by all sectors to sustain development. Various methods have been utilized to eliminate the emerging pollutants, such as adsorption and biological and advanced oxidation processes. These methods have their benefits and drawbacks in the removal of pharmaceuticals. Successful wastewater treatment can save the water bodies; integrating green initiatives into the main purposes of actor firms, combined with continually periodic awareness of the current and potential implications of environmental/water pollution, will play a major role in water conservation. This article reviews key publications on the adsorption, biological, and advanced oxidation processes used to remove pharmaceutical products from the aquatic environment. It also sheds light on the pharmaceutical adsorption capability of adsorption, biological and advanced oxidation methods, and their efficacy in pharmaceutical concentration removal. A research gap has been identified for researchers to explore in order to eliminate the problem associated with pharmaceutical wastes. Therefore, future study should focus on combining advanced oxidation and adsorption processes for an excellent way to eliminate pharmaceutical products, even at low concentrations. Biological processes should focus on ideal circumstances and microbial processes that enable the simultaneous removal of pharmaceutical compounds and the effects of diverse environments on removal efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Busayo Adeoye
- Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | - Yie Hua Tan
- Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.
| | - Sie Yon Lau
- Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | - Yee Yong Tan
- Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, Sarawak, Miri, 98009, Malaysia
| | - Tung Chiong
- Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak
- Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Biosciences, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India
| | - Mohammad Khalid
- Sunway Centre for Electrochemical Energy and Sustainable Technology (SCEEST), School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5 Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia; Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India; Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Punjab 140401, India
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Munir MT, Li B, Naqvi M, Nizami AS. Green loops and clean skies: Optimizing municipal solid waste management using data science for a circular economy. Environ Res 2024; 243:117786. [PMID: 38036215 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The interplay between Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management and data science unveils a panorama of opportunities and challenges, set against the backdrop of rising global waste and evolving technological landscapes. This article threads through the multifaceted aspects of incorporating data science into MSW management, unearthing key findings, novel knowledge, and instigating a call to action for stakeholders (e.g. policymakers, local authorities, waste management professionals, technology developers, and the general public) across the spectrum. Predominant challenges like the enigmatic nature of "black-box" models and tangible knowledge gaps in the sector are scrutinized, ushering in a narrative that emphasizes transparent, stakeholder-inclusive, and policy-adaptive approaches. Notably, a conscious shift towards "white-box" and "grey-box" data science models has been spotlighted as a pivotal response to transparency issues. Furthermore, the discourse highlights the necessity of crafting data science solutions that are specifically moulded to the nuanced challenges of MSW management, and it underscores the importance of recalibrating existing policies to be reflexive to technological advancements. A resolute call echoes for stakeholders to not just adapt but immerse themselves in a continuous learning trajectory, championing transparency, and fostering collaborations that hinge on innovative, data-driven methodologies. Thus, as the realms of data science and MSW management entwine, the article sheds light on the potential transformation awaiting waste management paradigms, contingent on the nurtured amalgamation of technological advances, policy alignment, and collaborative synergy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bing Li
- Water Research Center, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Muhammad Naqvi
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Kuwait.
| | - Abdul-Sattar Nizami
- Sustainable Development Study Center, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
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Ji A, Guan J, Zhang S, Ma X, Jing S, Yan G, Liu Y, Li H, Zhao H. Environmental and economic assessments of industry-level medical waste disposal technologies - A case study of ten Chinese megacities. Waste Manag 2024; 174:203-217. [PMID: 38061188 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.11.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Medical waste (MW) is exploding due to the COVID-19 pandemic, posing a significant environmental threat, and leading to the urgent requirement for affordable and environmentally friendly MW disposal technologies. Prior research on individual MW disposal plants is region-specific, applying these results to other regions may introduce bias. In this study, major MW disposal technologies in China, i.e., incineration technologies (pyrolysis incineration and rotary kiln incineration), and sterilization technologies (steam sterilization, microwave sterilization, and chemical disinfection) with residue landfill or incineration were analyzed from an industry-level perspective via life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) and net present value (NPV) methods. Life cycle inventories and economic cost data for 4-5 typical companies were selected from 128 distinct enterprises and academic sources for each technology. LCA results show that microwave sterilization with residue incineration has the lowest environmental impact, emitting only 480 kg CO2 eq. LCC and NPV analyses indicate that steam sterilization with landfilling is the most economical, yielding revenues of 1,210 CNY/t and breaking even in the first year. Conversely, pyrolysis and rotary kiln incineration break even between the 4th and 5th years. Greenhouse gas emissions from the MW disposal in ten cities with the largest MW production in 2020 increased by 7% over 2019 to 43,800 tons and other pollutants increased by 6% to 12%. Economically, Shanghai exhibits the highest cost-effectiveness, while Nanjing delivers the lowest. It can be observed that the adoption of optimal environmental technologies has resulted in a diminution of greenhouse gas emissions by 279,000 tons and energy conservation of 1.76 billion MJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimin Ji
- Ocean College, Tangshan Normal University, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Jinghua Guan
- School of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Siqing Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- School of Chemical Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Sida Jing
- School of Basic Medical College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Guanghao Yan
- School of Chemical Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Yue Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Haiying Li
- School of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Hailong Zhao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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6
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Su H, Xu D, Li T, Zhu L, Wang S. Low-Temperature Upcycling of Polypropylene Waste into H 2 Fuel via a Novel Tandem Hydrothermal Process. ChemSusChem 2024; 17:e202301299. [PMID: 37806957 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Plastic waste is a promising and abundant resource for H2 production. However, upcycling plastic waste into H2 fuel via conventional thermochemical routes requires relatively considerable energy input and severe reaction conditions, particularly for polyolefin waste. Here, we report a tandem strategy for the selective upcycling of polypropylene (PP) waste into H2 fuel in a mild and clean manner. PP waste was first oxidized into small-molecule organic acids using pure O2 as oxidant at 190 °C, followed by the catalytic reforming of oxidation aqueous products over ZnO-modified Ru/NiAl2 O4 catalysts to produce H2 at 300 °C. A high H2 yield of 44.5 mol/kgPP and a H2 mole fraction of 60.5 % were obtained from this tandem process. The entire process operated with almost no solid residue remaining and equipment contamination, ensuring relative stability and cleanliness of the reaction system. This strategy provides a new route for low-temperature transforming PP and improving the sustainability of plastic waste disposal processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongcai Su
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road 38, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Dan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road 38, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Tian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road 38, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Lingjun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road 38, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Shurong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road 38, Hangzhou, 310027, China
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Sanito RC, Mujiyanti DR, You SJ, Wang YF. A review on medical waste treatment in COVID-19 pandemics: Technologies, managements and future strategies. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2024; 74:72-99. [PMID: 37955449 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2023.2282011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 few years ago, the increasing of the number of medical waste has become a huge issue because of their harmful impact to environment. A major concern associated to the limitation of technologies for dealing with medical waste, especially conventional technologies, are overcapacities since pandemic occurs. Moreover, the outbreak of new viruses from post COVID-19 should become a serious attention to be prevented not only environmental issues but also the spreading of viruses to new pandemic near the future. The high possibility of an outbreak of new viruses and mutation near the future should be prevented based on the experience associated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the last 3 yr. This review presented information and strategies for handling medical waste during the outbreak of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19, and also information on the current issues related to technologies, such as incineration, pyrolysis/gasification, autoclaves and microwave treatment for the dealing with high numbers of medical waste in COVID-19 to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus, their advantages and disadvantages. Plasma technology can be considered to be implemented as an alternative technology to deal with medical waste since incinerator is usually over capacities during the pandemic situation. Proper treatment of specific medical waste in pandemics, namely face masks, vaccine vials, syringes, and dead bodies, are necessary because those medical wastes are mediums for transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Furthermore, emission controls from incinerator and plasma are necessary to be implemented to reduce the high concentration of CO2, NOx, and VOCs during the treatment. Finally, future strategies of medical waste treatment in the perspective of potential outbreak pandemic from new mutation viruses are discussed in this review paper.Implications: Journal of the air and waste management association may consider our review paper to be published. In this review, we give important information related to the technologies, managements and strategies for handling the medical waste and control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus, starting from proper technology to control the high number of medical waste, their pollutants and many strategies for controlling the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Moreover, this review also describes some strategies associated with control the transmission not only the SARS-CoV-2 virus but also the outbreak of new viruses near the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raynard Christianson Sanito
- Surface Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Materials Research Center, Department of Mineral, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Laval University, Pavillon Adrien-Pouliot, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- CHU de Quebec, Hospital Saint-François d'Assise, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dwi Rasy Mujiyanti
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, Indonesia
| | - Sheng-Jie You
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Center for Environmental Risk Management, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Fen Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Center for Environmental Risk Management, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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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. J Hazard Mater 2024; 461:132566. [PMID: 37742382 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Zhou T, Wu J, Hu X, Cao Z, Yang B, Li Y, Zhao Y, Ding Y, Liu Y, Xu A. Microplastics released from disposable medical devices and their toxic responses in Caenorhabditis elegans. Environ Res 2023; 239:117345. [PMID: 37821065 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Owing to accelerated urbanization and industrialization, many plastic products have been manufactured and discharged into the environment, causing environmental and public health problems. Plastics in environmental media are further degraded by prolonged exposure to light, heat, mechanical friction, and other factors to form new pollutants called microplastics (MPs). Medical plastics have become a crucial source of plastics in environmental media. However, the release profiles of MPs from medical plastics and their potential ecological and health risks remain unclear. We used optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy to explore the release profiles of eight typical disposable medical devices under high-temperature steam disinfection (HSD). We also evaluated the toxicity of disposable medical devices-derived MPs in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Our results showed that the changes in the surface morphology and modification of the disposable medical devices were mainly associated with the material. Polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) materials exhibited high aging phenomena (e.g., bumps, depressions, bulges and cracks), and HSD broke their oxygen-containing functional groups and carbon chains. By contrast, minor changes in the chemical and physical properties were observed in the polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-prepared disposable medical devices under the same conditions. Further physicochemical characterization indicated that the amount of MPs released from PP-prepared disposable medical devices (P4: 1.27 ± 0.34 × 106) was greater than that from PVC-prepared disposable medical devices (P7: 1.08 ± 0.14 × 105). The particle size of the released MPs was the opposite, PVC-prepared disposable medical devices (P7: 11.45 ± 1.79 μm) > PP-prepared disposable medical devices (P4: 7.18 ± 0.52 μm). Toxicity assessment revealed that disposable medical devices-released MPs significantly increased germ cell apoptosisin C. elegans. Moreover, MPs from PP-prepared disposable medical devices disrupted the intestinal barrier of worms, decreasing their lifespan. Our findings provided novel information regarding the profiles and mechanisms of MP release from disposable medical devices and revealed their potential risks to ecological environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology; High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, PR China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Jiajie Wu
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology; High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, PR China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Xi Hu
- Quantum Design (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenxiao Cao
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Baolin Yang
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Yang Li
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Yanan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology; High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, PR China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Yuting Ding
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Yun Liu
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology; High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, PR China
| | - An Xu
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology; High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, PR China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, PR China.
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10
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Márquez A, Patlaka E, Sfakiotakis S, Ortiz I, Sánchez-Hervás JM. Pyrolysis of municipal solid waste: A kinetic study through multi-step reaction models. Waste Manag 2023; 172:171-181. [PMID: 37918310 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The present study endeavors to establish a comprehensive kinetic analysis of Municipal Solid Waste residue pyrolysis. As the sample exhibits four distinct degradation stages, it has been carried out by adopting a multi-step process behavior. Different approaches have been compared, including five isoconversional methods (Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, Ozawa-Flynn-Wall, Starink, Friedman and Advanced integral Vyazovkin), Mathematical Deconvolution Analysis, and Independent Parallel Reaction Model. The study focuses on the two active pyrolysis steps, the first one corresponds to the biomass components between 150 and 400 °C, with the decomposition peak between 300 and 350 °C, whereas the second corresponds to the plastic fraction with temperature ranging between 400 and 520 °C. The activation energy values obtained from the different kinetic methods for both steps are estimated at 240 and 250 kJ/mol, respectively. It was observed that the biomass components degradation obeys a third-order kinetic model, while the plastic fraction follows a first-order kinetic model. The analytical pyrolysis of the two main stages allows for the identification and semi-quantification of the compounds produced during municipal solid waste pyrolysis. Through analytical pyrolysis, it has been determined that up to 64 % of hydrocarbons are produced, of which 24 % correspond to aromatic compounds. Meanwhile, 20 % of oxygenated compounds were obtained, with ketones, furans, and acids being the most predominant families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Márquez
- Unit for Sustainable Thermochemical Valorization, CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Elpida Patlaka
- Solid Fuels Beneficiation and Technology, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, University Campus 73100 Chania, Greece
| | - Stelios Sfakiotakis
- Solid Fuels Beneficiation and Technology, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, University Campus 73100 Chania, Greece
| | - Isabel Ortiz
- Unit for Sustainable Thermochemical Valorization, CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José María Sánchez-Hervás
- Unit for Sustainable Thermochemical Valorization, CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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11
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Garcia-Garcia G, Martín-Lara MÁ, Calero M, Ortega F, Blázquez G. Life-Cycle Assessment of the thermal and catalytic pyrolysis over sepiolite of face masks. Sci Total Environ 2023; 895:165063. [PMID: 37355111 PMCID: PMC10287176 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, extensive quantities of face masks have been used and discarded. Most of these masks end up in landfills, causing a high environmental impact and no benefits. However, there are alternative ways to deal with this waste in a more sustainable way. For example, valorisation of face masks through pyrolysis has received special attention because it offers efficient application to produce a liquid oil that can be used as a diesel substitute and a solid char that can be used as an activated carbon substitute after activation. In this context, this study applies the Life-Cycle Assessment methodology to quantify and analyse the environmental impacts of different treatment scenarios based on the pyrolysis of surgical masks and FFP2 masks. It also compares their environmental performance with the conventional practice of landfilling. The scenarios studied include both thermal and catalytic pyrolysis by using sepiolite, a low-cost material abundant in Spain. Data on the pyrolysis process were obtained from laboratory experiments. It was found that the use of the produced oil as a diesel substitute very significantly reduces the environmental impact in all pyrolysis scenarios. Consequently, the pyrolysis of face masks can reduce the environmental impact caused by the treatment of this waste material. Furthermore, the thermal pyrolysis performs environmentally better than the catalytic pyrolysis. In all scenarios, freshwater ecotoxicity and marine ecotoxicity are the environmental impact categories that cause the highest environmental impact overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Garcia-Garcia
- Department of Agrifood Chain Economics, Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), Centre 'Camino de Purchil', 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Martín-Lara
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
| | - Mónica Calero
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
| | - Francisco Ortega
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Gabriel Blázquez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
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12
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Xu BX, Ding Y, Bilal M, Wang MY. Event-related potentials for investigating the willingness to recycle household medical waste. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20722. [PMID: 37842614 PMCID: PMC10570574 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Household medical waste (HMW) recycling in the reverse supply chain has become a primary channel for infectious, toxic, or radioactive substances for environmental protection and a circular economy. Recycling managers need to understand the recycling decision-making mechanisms of households to improve the intention-behavior gap and recycling participation rate, especially in cognitive neuroscience. This study designed an event-related potential (ERPs) experiment to explore the differences in ERPs components between the willingness and unwillingness to make recycling decisions. Our findings confirmed that willingness and unwillingness to recycle can lead to a significant difference in the P300 and N400 scores. A larger P300 was evoked by willingness rather than unwillingness in the prefrontal, frontal, and frontal-temporal regions. This indicates that willingness to recycle results from a rational choice in the decision-making process. However, a larger N400 was evoked by unwillingness rather than willingness in the parietal, parietal-occipital, and occipital regions. A negative wave was evoked in households unwilling to recycle because they thought it was dangerous and unsanitary, causing a higher conflict with intrinsic cognition. The combination of HMW recycling decisions and neurology may accurately measure pro-environmental decision-making processes through brain science. Advancing the knowledge of psychological and brain mechanism activities for understanding pro-environmental choices. In turn, this can help recycling managers to accurately understand household demands for increasing the recycling intention and designing effective HMW take-back systems to solve the intention-behavior gap related to the global recycling dilemma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin-Xiu Xu
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, PR China
| | - Yi Ding
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, PR China
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, PR China
| | - Mia Y. Wang
- Department of Computer Science, College of Charleston, SC, USA
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Mishra A, Mohan Viswanathan P, Ramasamy N, Panchatcharam S, Sabarathinam C. Spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in Miri coastal area, NW Borneo: inference from a periodical observation. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:103225-103243. [PMID: 37688695 PMCID: PMC10567912 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29582-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
The current study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the Miri coast, targeting their occurrences, characterisation, and potential sources. For a periodical study, coastal sediments were collected from three different time intervals (monsoon, post-monsoon, and post-COVID) and subjected to stereomicroscope, ATR-FTIR, and SEM-EDX analyses. These results show a significant increase of MPs in post-COVID samples by approximately 218% and 148% comparatively with monsoon and post-monsoon samples, respectively. The highest concentration of MPs was detected near the river mouths and industrial areas where the waste discharge rate and anthropogenic activities dominate. Fibre-type MPs are the most abundant, with an average of nearly 64%, followed by fragments, films, microbeads, and foams. The most dominant polymer types were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyester (PET). Overall, the current study shows a better understanding of MPs occurrence and potential sources in the Miri coastal area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshuman Mishra
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Prasanna Mohan Viswanathan
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | - Nagarajan Ramasamy
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
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Huang R, Ren Q, Zhang J, He L, Su S, Wang Y, Jiang L, Xu J, Hu S, Xiang J. Adjusting effects of pyrolytic volatiles interaction in char to upgrade oil by swelling waste nylon-tire. Waste Manag 2023; 169:374-381. [PMID: 37527617 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Waste nylon-tire (WNT) is a typical solid municipal waste, pyrolysis efficiently disposes WNT to produce oil containing high-value chemicals. Upgrading the quality of oil is the key to improve WNT pyrolysis economy. Herein, swelling was applied to pretreat WNT, and swelled waste nylon-tire (SWNT) was pyrolyzed at different temperatures (400 °C-600 °C). Lower than 500 °C, swelling pretreatment realized the number of compounds in oil by GC-MS decreased 59.57% at 400 °C (60.78% at 450 °C, 67.97% at 500 °C) compared to Waste nylon-tire pyrolytic oil (TPO). Over 500 °C, this phenomenon weakened, decreased 47.67% at 550 °C (11.48% at 600 °C). At 400 °C and 450 °C, long chain methyl esters yield was over 30 A.% instead of short chain alkanes in TPO. D-limonene yield was over 20 A.% in oil of swelled waste nylon-tire (STPO). From 500 °C to 600 °C, swelling pretreatment affected the relative content of BTX and PAHs. At 500 °C and 550 °C, the relative content of BTX in STPO was more than twice of TPO, and BTX reached 28.75 A.% at 600 °C. PAHs in STPO appeared at 500 °C higher than TPO (450 °C), and PAHs was 0.73 A.% at 500 °C. Swelling pretreatment could produce more larger pores in particle during pyrolysis, which sharply inhibited the interaction of volatiles inside tire, so the number of compounds in oil sharply decreased at lower temperatures. Over 550 °C, temperature became the dominant role for generating oil, and components tended to be similar for STPO and TPO. CS2 with high-volatility released quickly from WNT during pyrolysis, it could be recycled to reduce final cost and environment impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Huang
- China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Qiangqiang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Jialin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Limo He
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Sheng Su
- China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yi Wang
- China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Long Jiang
- China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Jun Xu
- China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Song Hu
- China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Jun Xiang
- China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
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15
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da Silva EP, Fragal VH, Fragal EH, Sequinel T, Gorup LF, Silva R, Muniz EC. Sustainable energy and waste management: How to transform plastic waste into carbon nanostructures for electrochemical supercapacitors. Waste Manag 2023; 171:71-85. [PMID: 37651944 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Plastic waste consumption increases exponentially every year, mainly in the last three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid growth of plastic products has exceeded the world's capacity to deal with this type of trash. Thus, it has become a substantial environmental concern in modern society. Another dire concern is the improper disposal of used supercapacitors, leading to serious environmental impacts. Consequently, critical action to tackle this issue is to transform trash into high-valued materials, such as carbon nanomaterial supercapacitors. Considering several methodologies of recycling, pyrolysis stands out due to its simplicity and easy handling of mixed plastic waste to produce carbonaceous materials with different dimensions (0, 1, 2, and 3D). Thus, from this technology, it is possible to create new opportunities for using plastic waste and other types of waste to produce cheaper carbon-based materials for supercapacitors. This review aims to provide readers with a sustainability-driven view regarding the reutilization of plastic trash, discusses the environmental consequences of not doing so, and shows plastic waste solutions. Despite the broad scope of the topic, this review focuses on identifying the currently studied strategies to convert plastic waste into carbon-based electrodes, using less expensive and more efficient competitive protocols, besides emphasizing the diverse types (0, 1, 2, and 3D) of nanostructures. This review also proposes promising options for a sustainable cycle of plastic waste and supercapacitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisangela Pacheco da Silva
- Department of Chemistry, UEM - State University of Maringa Avenida Colombo 5790, CEP, 87020-900, Paraná, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Hafemann Fragal
- Department of Chemistry, UEM - State University of Maringa Avenida Colombo 5790, CEP, 87020-900, Paraná, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Elizângela Hafemann Fragal
- Department of Chemistry, UEM - State University of Maringa Avenida Colombo 5790, CEP, 87020-900, Paraná, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Thiago Sequinel
- Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS 79804-970, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fernando Gorup
- LIEC - Laboratory Interdisciplinar de Eletroquímica e Cerâmica, Departament of Chemistry, UFSCar-Federal, University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luis km 235, CP 676, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil; Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas, CEP 37130-001, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Rafael Silva
- Department of Chemistry, UEM - State University of Maringa Avenida Colombo 5790, CEP, 87020-900, Paraná, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Edvani C Muniz
- Department of Chemistry, UEM - State University of Maringa Avenida Colombo 5790, CEP, 87020-900, Paraná, Maringá, Brazil; Department of Material Science, Federal University of Technology - Parana, Estr. dos Pioneiros, 3131, CEP 86036-370, Jardim Morumbi, Londrina, Parana, Brazil; Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí, Campus Petrônio Portella, Ininga, Teresina, CEP 64049-550, Piauí, Brazil.
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Requena-Sanchez NP, Carbonel D, Demel L, Moonsammy S, Richter A, Mahmud TS, Ng KTW. A multi-jurisdictional study on the quantification of COVID-19 household plastic waste in six Latin American countries. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:93295-93306. [PMID: 37505388 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28949-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
This study examines urban plastic waste generation using a citizen science approach in six Latin American countries during a global pandemic. The objectives are to quantify generation rates of masks, gloves, face shields, and plastic bags in urban households using online survey and perform a systematic cross-jurisdiction comparisons in these Latin American countries. The per capita total mask generation rates ranged from 0.179 to 0.915 mask cap-1 day-1. A negative correlation between the use of gloves and masks is observed. Using the average values, the approximate proportion of masks, gloves, shields, and single-use plastic bags was 34:5:1:84. We found that most studies overestimated face mask disposal rate in Latin America due to the simplifying assumptions on the number of masks discarded per person, masking prevalence rate, and average mask weight. Unlike other studies, end-of-life PPE quantities were directly counted and reported by the survey participants. Both of the conventional weight-based estimates and the proposed participatory survey are recommended in quantifying COVID waste. Participant' perception based on the Likert scale is generally consistent with the waste amount generated. Waste policy and regulation appear to be important in daily waste generation rate. The results highlight the importance of using measured data in waste estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norvin Plumieer Requena-Sanchez
- Integrated Waste Management for Sustainable Development (GIRDS), Faculty of Environmental Engineering, National University of Engineering, Av. Túpac Amaru 210, Rímac, 15333, Lima, Peru
| | - Dalia Carbonel
- Integrated Waste Management for Sustainable Development (GIRDS), Faculty of Environmental Engineering, National University of Engineering, Av. Túpac Amaru 210, Rímac, 15333, Lima, Peru
| | - Larissa Demel
- United Nations Development Program, Apartado, 0816-1914, Panama, Panama
| | - Stephan Moonsammy
- Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Guyana, RV6J+XV8, Turkeyen Campus, Georgetown, Guyana
| | - Amy Richter
- Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Tanvir Shahrier Mahmud
- Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng
- Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 0A2, Canada.
- Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 0A2, Canada.
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17
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Ochoa-Barragán R, Munguía-López ADC, Ponce-Ortega JM. A hybrid machine learning-mathematical programming optimization approach for municipal solid waste management during the pandemic. Environ Dev Sustain 2023:1-20. [PMID: 37362987 PMCID: PMC10181925 DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03354-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
This paper provides a mathematical optimization strategy for optimal municipal solid waste management in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic. This strategy integrates two approaches: optimization and machine learning models. First, the optimization model determines the optimal supply chain for the municipal waste management system. Then, machine learning prediction models estimate the required parameters over time, which helps generate future projections for the proposed strategy. The optimization model was coded in the General Algebraic Modeling System, while the prediction model was coded in the Python programming environment. A case study of New York City was addressed to evaluate the proposed strategy, which includes extensive socioeconomic data sets to train the machine learning model. We found the predicted waste collection over time based on the socioeconomic data. The results show trade-offs between the economic (profit) and environmental (waste sent to landfill) objectives for future scenarios, which can be helpful for possible pandemic scenarios in the following years. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10668-023-03354-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogelio Ochoa-Barragán
- Chemical Engineering Department, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Francisco J. Mujica S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, 58060 Morelia, Michoacán México
| | - Aurora del Carmen Munguía-López
- Chemical Engineering Department, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Francisco J. Mujica S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, 58060 Morelia, Michoacán México
| | - José María Ponce-Ortega
- Chemical Engineering Department, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Francisco J. Mujica S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, 58060 Morelia, Michoacán México
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18
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Wang K, Bian H, Lai Q, Chen Y, Li Z, Hao Y, Yan L, Wang C, Tian X. Study on synergistic pyrolysis and kinetics of mixed plastics based on spent fluid-catalytic-cracking catalyst. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:66665-66682. [PMID: 37099103 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26999-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
At present, disposable plastic products such as plastic packaging are very common in our daily life. These products are extremely easy to cause serious damage to the soil and marine environment due to their short design and service life, difficulties in degradation, or long degradation cycles. Thermochemical method (pyrolysis or catalytic pyrolysis) is an efficient and environmentally friendly way to treat plastic waste. In order to further reduce the energy consumption of plastic pyrolysis and improve the recycling rate of spent fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts, we adopt the "waste-to-waste" approach to apply the spent FCC catalysts as catalysts in the catalytic pyrolysis of plastics, exploring the pyrolysis characteristics, kinetic parameters, and synergistic effects between different typical plastics (polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, polystyrene). The experimental results show that the spent FCC catalysts used in the catalytic pyrolysis of plastics are beneficial to reduce the overall pyrolysis temperature and activation energy, in which the maximum weight loss temperature decreases by about 12 ℃ and the activation energy decreases by about 13%. The activity of spent FCC catalysts is improved after modification by microwave and ultrasonic, which further improve the catalytic efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of pyrolysis. The co-pyrolysis of mixed plastics is dominated by positive synergistic effect, which is conducive to improving the thermal degradation rate and shortening the pyrolysis time. This study provides relevant theoretical support for the resource application of spent FCC catalysts and "waste-to-waste" treatment of plastic waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kongshuo Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Tire Equipment and Key Materials, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing of Polymer Materials, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Huiguang Bian
- National Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Tire Equipment and Key Materials, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing of Polymer Materials, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Qingxiang Lai
- National Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Tire Equipment and Key Materials, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing of Polymer Materials, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Yahui Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Tire Equipment and Key Materials, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing of Polymer Materials, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Zhaoyang Li
- National Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Tire Equipment and Key Materials, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing of Polymer Materials, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Yingjie Hao
- National Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Tire Equipment and Key Materials, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing of Polymer Materials, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Lizhi Yan
- National Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Tire Equipment and Key Materials, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing of Polymer Materials, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Chuansheng Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Tire Equipment and Key Materials, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing of Polymer Materials, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Shandong, 266061, China
| | - Xiaolong Tian
- National Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Tire Equipment and Key Materials, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China.
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing of Polymer Materials, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China.
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Shandong, 266061, China.
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Zhao Z, Zheng X, Han Z, Yang S, Zhang H, Lin T, Zhou C. Response mechanisms of Chlorella sorokiniana to microplastics and PFOA stress: Photosynthesis, oxidative stress, extracellular polymeric substances and antioxidant system. Chemosphere 2023; 323:138256. [PMID: 36858114 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Co-pollution of microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is prevailing in the aquatic environment. However, the risks of coexisting microplastics and PFAS on organisms remain unknown. This study investigated the response mechanisms of Chlorella sorokiniana (C. sorokiniana) under polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) stress, including toxicity and defense mechanisms. C. sorokiniana was exposed to PS-MPs (10 mg/L) and PFOA (0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/L) and their mixtures for 96 h, respectively. We found that the dominant toxicity mechanism of PFOA and PS-MPs to C. sorokiniana was dissimilar. PS-MPs mainly inhibited photosynthesis through shading effect, while PFOA mainly induced oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species. The co-exposure of PFOA and PS-MPs aggravated biotoxicity (maximum inhibition rate: 27.27 ± 2.44%), such as photosynthesis inhibition, physical damage, and oxidative stress, compared with individuals. To alleviate toxicity, C. sorokiniana activated defense mechanisms. Extracellular polymeric substances were the first barrier to protect cells, the effect on its secretion was ordered PS-MPs+5PFOA > PS-MPs > 5PFOA, and IBRv2 values were 2.37, 1.35, 1.11, respectively. Antioxidant system was thought of second defense pathway, the influence order of treatment groups was PS-MPs+5PFOA > 5PFOA > PS-MPs, and its IBRv2 values were 2.89, 1.69, 0.25, respectively. Our findings provide valuable information on the complex impacts of PFOA and PS-MPs, which facilitate the ecological risk assessment of multiple pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Zhao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Xiaoying Zheng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China.
| | - Zongshuo Han
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Shanshan Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Huijie Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Tao Lin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Chao Zhou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
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20
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Debrah JK, Dinis MAP. Chemical characteristics of bottom ash from biomedical waste incinerators in Ghana. Environ Monit Assess 2023; 195:568. [PMID: 37058242 PMCID: PMC10102684 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11132-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Biomedical waste (BMW) incineration is the most used alternative disposal method in developing countries, such as Ghana. The improper disposal of incinerator-generated bottom ash (BA) is a significant concern due to the hazardous nature of waste. A study was conducted at Tema Hospital (TGH) and Asuogyaman Hospital (VRAH) incinerator sites. The BA samples were sent to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Industrial Research, Ghana. The BA samples were weighed with fisher analytical balance, ground, and sieved with standard grade meshes of 120, 100, and 80 to determine the BA particle size distribution. The chemical composition and heavy metals were analysed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) techniques. The results indicated the chemical composition of the analysed BA samples was CaCO3 (49.90%), CaO (27.96%) and MgCO3 (6.02%) for TGH and CaCO3 (48.30%), CaO (27.07%), and SiO2 (6.10%) for VRAH, respectively. The mean concentration (M) (kg m-3) and standard deviation (SD) for TGH in the BA were 7.082 ± 0.478 (Ti), 4.657 ± 0.127 (Zn) and 4.271 ± 1.263 (Fe), while that of VRAH consisted of 10.469 ± 1.588 (Ti), 7.896 ± 2.154 (Fe) and 4.389 ± 0.371 (Zn). Therefore, the heavy metals' mean concentration at the BA is above the WHO permissible limits of soil, i.e., 0.056 kg m-3 (Ti), 0.085 kg m-3 (Pb), 0.100 kg m-3 (Cr) and 0.036 kg m-3 (Cu). Furthermore, the heavy metal mean concentrations of TGH and VRAH present in the BA analysed samples were ranked in descending order: Ti > Zn > Fe and Ti > Fe > Zn, respectively. It is therefore recommended that BA must be properly disposed of because of the hazardous nature of heavy metals present in the analysed samples, which are able to cause environmental and public health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justice Kofi Debrah
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Praça 9 de Abril 349, 4249-004, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis
- UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Praça 9 de Abril 349, 4249-004, Porto, Portugal.
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21
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Chew X, Khaw KW, Alnoor A, Ferasso M, Al Halbusi H, Muhsen YR. Circular economy of medical waste: novel intelligent medical waste management framework based on extension linear Diophantine fuzzy FDOSM and neural network approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:60473-60499. [PMID: 37036648 PMCID: PMC10088637 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26677-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution has been a major concern for researchers and policymakers. A number of studies have been conducted to enquire the causes of environmental pollution which suggested numerous policies and techniques as remedial measures. One such major source of environmental pollution, as reported by previous studies, has been the garbage resulting from disposed hospital wastes. The recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted into mass generation of medical waste which seems to have further deteriorated the issue of environmental pollution. This necessitates active attention from both the researchers and policymakers for effective management of medical waste to prevent the harm to environment and human health. The issue of medical waste management is more important for countries lacking sophisticated medical infrastructure. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to propose a novel application for identification and classification of 10 hospitals in Iraq which generated more medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic than others in order to address the issue more effectively. We used the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method to this end. We integrated MCDM with other techniques including the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), linear Diophantine fuzzy set decision by opinion score method (LDFN-FDOSM), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis to generate more robust results. We classified medical waste into five categories, i.e., general waste, sharp waste, pharmaceutical waste, infectious waste, and pathological waste. We consulted 313 experts to help in identifying the best and the worst medical waste management technique within the perspectives of circular economy using the neural network approach. The findings revealed that incineration technique, microwave technique, pyrolysis technique, autoclave chemical technique, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, dry heat, ozone, and ultraviolet light were the most effective methods to dispose of medical waste during the pandemic. Additionally, ozone was identified as the most suitable technique among all to serve the purpose of circular economy of medical waste. We conclude by discussing the practical implications to guide governments and policy makers to benefit from the circular economy of medical waste to turn pollutant hospitals into sustainable ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- XinYing Chew
- School of Computer Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Khai Wah Khaw
- School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Alhamzah Alnoor
- Management Technical College, Southern Technical University, Basrah, Iraq.
| | - Marcos Ferasso
- Economics and Business Sciences Department, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, 1169-023, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Hussam Al Halbusi
- Department of Management, Ahmed Bin Mohammad Military College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Yousif Raad Muhsen
- Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
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22
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Bolan S, Padhye LP, Kumar M, Antoniadis V, Sridharan S, Tang Y, Singh N, Hewawasam C, Vithanage M, Singh L, Rinklebe J, Song H, Siddique KHM, Kirkham MB, Wang H, Bolan N. Review on distribution, fate, and management of potentially toxic elements in incinerated medical wastes. Environ Pollut 2023; 321:121080. [PMID: 36702428 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Medical wastes include all solid and liquid wastes that are produced during the treatment, diagnosis, and immunisation of animals and humans. A significant proportion of medical waste is infectious, hazardous, radioactive, and contains potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (i.e., heavy metal (loids)). PTEs, including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), are mostly present in plastic, syringes, rubber, adhesive plaster, battery wastes of medical facilities in elemental form, as well as oxides, chlorides, and sulfates. Incineration and sterilisation are the most common technologies adopted for the safe management and disposal of medical wastes, which are primarily aimed at eliminating deadly pathogens. The ash materials derived from the incineration of hazardous medical wastes are generally disposed of in landfills after the solidification/stabilisation (S/S) process. In contrast, the ash materials derived from nonhazardous wastes are applied to the soil as a source of nutrients and soil amendment. The release of PTEs from medical waste ash material from landfill sites and soil application can result in ecotoxicity. The present study is a review paper that aims to critically review the dynamisms of PTEs in various environmental media after medical waste disposal, the environmental and health implications of their poor management, and the common misconceptions regarding medical waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiv Bolan
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia; Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, Australia
| | - Lokesh P Padhye
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Manish Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Vasileios Antoniadis
- University of Thessaly, Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, Fytokou Street, 384 46, Volos, Greece
| | - Srinidhi Sridharan
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Yuanyuan Tang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Narendra Singh
- Environmental Science Center, Decarbonisation and Resource Managemental, British Geological Survey, Nottinghamshire, NG12 5GG, Keyworth, UK
| | - Choolaka Hewawasam
- Department of Civil and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Pitipana, Homagama, Sri Lanka
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Lal Singh
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany; Department of Environment, Energy and Geoinformatics, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Hocheol Song
- Department of Environment, Energy and Geoinformatics, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea; Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Korea
| | - Kadambot H M Siddique
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - M B Kirkham
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, United States
| | - Hailong Wang
- Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China; Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Nanthi Bolan
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia; Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, Australia.
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23
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Chaudhary AS, Kiran B, Sivagami K, Govindarajan D, Chakraborty S. Thermal degradation model of used surgical masks based on machine learning methodology. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 2023; 144:104732. [PMID: 36817942 PMCID: PMC9922155 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2023.104732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has leveraged facial masks to be one of the most effective measures to prevent the spread of the virus, which thereby has exponentially increased the usage of facial masks that lead to medical waste mismanagements which pose a serious threat to life. Thermal degradation or pyrolysis is an effective treatment method for the used facial mask wastes and this study aims to investigate the thermal degradation of the same. Methods Predicted the TGA experimental curves of the mask components using a Machine Learning model known as Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Significant findings Three different parts of the mask namely- ribbon, body, and corner were separated and used for the analysis. The thermal degradation behavior is studied using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and this is crucial for determining the reactivity of the individual mask components as they are subjected to a range of temperatures. Using the curves obtained from TGA, kinetic parameters such as Activation energy (E) and Pre-exponential factor (A) were estimated using the Coats-Redfern model-fitting method. Using the determined kinetic parameters, thermodynamic quantities such as a change in Enthalpy (ΔH), Entropy (ΔS), and Gibbs-Free energy (ΔG) were also calculated. Since TGA is a costly and time-consuming process, this study attempted to predict the TGA experimental curves of the mask components using a Machine Learning model known as Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The dataset obtained at a heating rate of 10°C/min was used to train the 3 different neural networks corresponding to the mask components and it showed an excellent agreement with experimental data (R2 > 0.99). Through this study, a complex chemical process such as thermal degradation was modelled using Machine Learning based on available experimental parameters without delving into the intricacies and complexities of the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek S Chaudhary
- Process Systems Engineering Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014,India
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
| | - Bandaru Kiran
- Process Systems Engineering Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014,India
| | - K Sivagami
- Process Systems Engineering Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014,India
| | - Dhivakar Govindarajan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, IIT Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Samarshi Chakraborty
- Colloids and Polymer Research Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632 014, India
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24
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Chaturvedi K, Singhwane A, Dhangar M, Mili M, Gorhae N, Naik A, Prashant N, Srivastava AK, Verma S. Bamboo for producing charcoal and biochar for versatile applications. Biomass Convers Biorefin 2023:1-27. [PMID: 36817514 PMCID: PMC9924895 DOI: 10.1007/s13399-022-03715-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Bamboo, the fastest-growing plant, has several unique characteristics that make it appropriate for diverse applications. It is low-cost, high-tensile, lightweight, flexible, durable, and capable of proliferating even in ineffectual areas (e.g., incline). This review discusses the unique properties of bamboo for making charcoal and biochar for diverse applications. To produce bamboo charcoal and biochar, this study reports on the pyrolysis process for the thermal degradation of organic materials in an oxygen-depleted atmosphere under a specific temperature. This is an alternative method for turning waste biomass into products with additional value, such as biochar. Due to various advantages, bamboo charcoal is preferred over regular charcoal as it has four times the absorption rate and ten times more surface area reported. According to the reports, the charcoal yield ranges from 24.60 to 74.27%. Bamboo chopsticks were the most useful source for producing charcoal, with a high yield of 74.27% at 300 °C in nitrogen, but the thorny bamboo species have a tremendous amount of minimal charcoal, i.e., 24.60%. The reported biochar from bamboo yield ranges from 32 to 80%. The most extensive biochar production is produced by the bamboo D. giganteus, which yields 80% biochar at 300 °C. Dry bamboo stalks at 400 °C produced 32% biochar. One of the sections highlights biochar as a sustainable solution for plastic trash management produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another section is dedicated to the knowledge enhancement about the broad application spectrum of the charcoal and biochar. The last section highlights the conclusions, future perspectives, and recommendations on the charcoal and biochar derived from bamboo. Graphical Abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamna Chaturvedi
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal, MP 462026 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research - Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal, MP 462026 India
| | - Anju Singhwane
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal, MP 462026 India
| | - Manish Dhangar
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal, MP 462026 India
| | - Medha Mili
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal, MP 462026 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research - Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal, MP 462026 India
| | - Nikhil Gorhae
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal, MP 462026 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research - Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal, MP 462026 India
| | - Ajay Naik
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal, MP 462026 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research - Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal, MP 462026 India
| | - N. Prashant
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal, MP 462026 India
| | - A. K. Srivastava
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal, MP 462026 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research - Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal, MP 462026 India
| | - Sarika Verma
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal, MP 462026 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research - Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal, MP 462026 India
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25
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Su H, Li T, Wang S, Zhu L, Hu Y. Low-temperature upcycling of PET waste into high-purity H 2 fuel in a one-pot hydrothermal system with in situ CO 2 capture. J Hazard Mater 2023; 443:130120. [PMID: 36265384 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation and improper disposal of a large amount of plastic waste have exacerbated the deterioration of the global ecosystem and environment. To simplify the complex management system and alleviate the environmental impact of plastic wastes, this study reports a novel one-pot hydrothermal conversion strategy for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), integrating three steps, namely depolymerization, subsequent in-situ aqueous phase reforming, and in-situ CO2 capture. Here, the PET waste was converted directly into the clean high-purity H2 fuel and the disodium terephthalate (Na2-TPA). A high yield of H2 at 23.7 mol/kgPET with ca. 99 % of H2 concentration was obtained at a temperature as low as 240 °C. The feasibility of this strategy in handling real-world PET plastic wastes was demonstrated through a series of tests on beverage bottles, food packaging, and polyester fabric waste. The Na2-TPA crystals produced from the proposed PET conversion system exhibited purity close to that of the standard sample, and thus had the potential to be directly used as an electrode material. Overall, this strategy provides an efficient way to transform PET waste into high-value products and improves the sustainability of the PET waste disposal process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongcai Su
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road 38, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Tian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road 38, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Shurong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road 38, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Lingjun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road 38, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Yanjun Hu
- Institute of Energy and Power Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
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26
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Danielli Bastos de Sousa F. The impact of plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic: The point of view of the environmental science literature. Mater Today Proc 2023; 80:1448-1455. [PMID: 36743883 PMCID: PMC9889263 DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2023.01.268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 is the official name of the disease provoked by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Since the advent of the first cases of the new coronavirus, our society has been completely changed. Due to the changes, new environmental challenges were imposed, principally due to the considerable growth in using plastic materials in packages and personal protective equipment such as face masks. The impact of plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic was discussed in the present work from the point of view of the environmental science area. Bibliometric analysis and mapping were performed based on Scopus database search results. Emphasis was placed on analyzing the authors' keywords of the publications. The main concern of the research area concerning the use of plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic is the pollution of water bodies by plastic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiula Danielli Bastos de Sousa
- Technology Development Center, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rua Gomes Carneiro, 1, 96010-610, Pelotas, RS, Brazil,Center of Engineering, Modeling and Applied Social Science, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados, 5001, 09210-580, Santo André, SP, Brazil,Corresponding author
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27
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Manatura K, Chalermsinsuwan B, Kaewtrakulchai N, Kwon EE, Chen WH. Machine learning and statistical analysis for biomass torrefaction: A review. Bioresour Technol 2023; 369:128504. [PMID: 36538955 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Torrefaction is a remarkable technology in biomass-to-energy. However, biomass has several disadvantages, including hydrophilic properties, higher moisture, lower heating value, and heterogeneous properties. Many conventional approaches, such as kinetic analysis, process modeling, and computational fluid dynamics, have been used to explain torrefaction performance and characteristics. However, they may be insufficient in actual applications because of providing only some specific solutions. Machine learning (ML) and statistical approaches are powerful tools for analyzing and predicting torrefaction outcomes and even optimizing the thermal process for its utilization. This state-of-the-art review aims to present ML-assisted torrefaction. Artificial neural networks, multivariate adaptive regression splines, decision tree, support vector machine, and other methods in the literature are discussed. Statistical approaches (SAs) for torrefaction, including Taguchi, response surface methodology, and analysis of variance, are also reviewed. Overall, this review has provided valuable insights into torrefaction optimization, which is conducive to biomass upgrading for achieving net zero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanit Manatura
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
| | - Benjapon Chalermsinsuwan
- Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330 Thailand
| | - Napat Kaewtrakulchai
- Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-industrial Product Improvement Institute (KAPI), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Eilhann E Kwon
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Wei-Hsin Chen
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung 411, Taiwan.
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Montero-Calderón C, Tacuri R, Solís H, De-La-Rosa A, Gordillo G, Araujo-Granda P. Masks thermal degradation as an alternative of waste valorization on the COVID-19 pandemic: A kinetic study. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13518. [PMID: 36785832 PMCID: PMC9907787 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic generated a new dynamic around waste management. Personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, and face shields were essential to prevent the spread of the disease. However, despite the increase in waste, no technical alternatives were foreseen for the recovery of these wastes, which are made up of materials that can be valued for energy recovery. It is essential to design processes such as waste to energy to promote the circular economy. Therefore, techniques such as pyrolysis and thermal oxidative decomposition of waste materials need to be studied and scaled up, for which kinetic models and thermodynamic parameters are required to allow the design of this reaction equipment. This work develops kinetic models of the thermal degradation process by pyrolysis as an alternative for energy recovery of used masks generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The wasted masks were isolated for 72 h for virus inactivation and characterized by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and determinate the higher calorific value (HCV). The composition of the wasted masks included polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, and spandex, with higher calorific values than traditional fuels. For this reason, they are susceptible to value as an energetic material. Thermal degradation was performed by thermogravimetric analysis at different heating rates in N2 atmosphere. The gases produced were characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The kinetic model was based on the mass loss of the masks on the thermal degradation, then calculated activation energies, reaction orders, pre-exponential factors, and thermodynamic parameters. Kinetics models such as Coats and Redfern, Horowitz and Metzger, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose were studied to find the best-fit models between the experimental and calculated data. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the thermal degradation processes demonstrated the feasibility and high potential of recovery of these residues with conversions higher than 89.26% and obtaining long-chain branched hydrocarbons, cyclic hydrocarbons, and CO2 as products.
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Park JE, Jo ES, Lee GB, Lee SE, Hong BU. Adsorption Capacity and Desorption Efficiency of Activated Carbon for Odors from Medical Waste. Molecules 2023; 28. [PMID: 36677843 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Five types of odor-emitting exhaust gases from medical waste were selected, and their adsorption capacity and desorption efficiency were investigated using activated carbon. The selected gases included polar gases (hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3)) and non-polar gases (acetaldehyde (AA), methyl mercaptan (MM), and trimethylamine (TMA))). Commercial activated carbon with a specific surface area of 2276 m2/g was used as the adsorbent. For the removal of odor from medical waste, we investigated: (1) the effective adsorption capacity of a single gas (<1 ppm), (2) the effect of the adsorbed NH3 gas concentration and flow rate, and (3) the desorption rate using NH3 gas. The values of the effective adsorption capacity of the single gas were in the following order: H2S < NH3 < AA < MM < TMA, at 0.2, 4.2, 6.3, 6.6, and 35.7 mg/g, respectively. The results indicate that polar gases have a lower effective adsorption capacity than that of non-polar gases, and that the size of the gas molecules and effective adsorption capacity exhibit a proportional relationship. The effective adsorption performance of NH3 gas showed an increasing trend with NH3 concentration. Therefore, securing optimal conditions for adsorption/desorption is imperative for the highly efficient removal of odor from medical waste.
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Ekanayake A, Rajapaksha AU, Hewawasam C, Anand U, Bontempi E, Kurwadkar S, Biswas JK, Vithanage M. Environmental challenges of COVID-19 pandemic: resilience and sustainability - A review. Environ Res 2023; 216:114496. [PMID: 36257453 PMCID: PMC9576205 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of novel respiratory disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has become a public health emergency worldwide and perturbed the global economy and ecosystem services. Many studies have reported the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental compartments, its transmission via environmental routes, and potential environmental challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. None of these studies have comprehensively reviewed the bidirectional relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the environment. For the first time, we explored the relationship between the environment and the SARS-CoV-2 virus/COVID-19 and how they affect each other. Supporting evidence presented here clearly demonstrates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in soil and water, denoting the role of the environment in the COVID-19 transmission process. However, most studies fail to determine if the viral genomes they have discovered are infectious, which could be affected by the environmental factors in which they are found.The potential environmental impact of the pandemic, including water pollution, chemical contamination, increased generation of non-biodegradable waste, and single-use plastics have received the most attention. For the most part, efficient measures have been used to address the current environmental challenges from COVID-19, including using environmentally friendly disinfection technologies and employing measures to reduce the production of plastic wastes, such as the reuse and recycling of plastics. Developing sustainable solutions to counter the environmental challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic should be included in national preparedness strategies. In conclusion, combating the pandemic and accomplishing public health goals should be balanced with environmentally sustainable measures, as the two are closely intertwined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusha Ekanayake
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka; Instrument Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
| | - Choolaka Hewawasam
- Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Uttpal Anand
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben Gurion, 8499000, Israel
| | - Elza Bontempi
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, University of Brescia, via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Sudarshan Kurwadkar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, California State University, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA
| | - Jayanta Kumar Biswas
- Department of Ecological Studies & International Centre for Ecological Engineering, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, West Bengal, India
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
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Mittal H, Ivaturi A, Khanuja M. MoSe 2-modified ZIF-8 novel nanocomposite for photocatalytic remediation of textile dye and antibiotic-contaminated wastewater. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:4151-4165. [PMID: 35963971 PMCID: PMC9376053 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22487-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19-led antibiotic waste generated from hospitals and health centres may cause serious health issues and significantly impact the environment. In the coming decades, antibiotic resistance will be one of the most significant threats to global human health. Photocatalytic water remediation is an effective and promising environmental solution that can be utilized to address this issue, to convert antibiotic waste into non-toxic products by utilizing renewable and abundant solar energy. In the present study, a novel nanocomposite of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-8) and molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) was efficiently synthesized by the solvothermal method for the complete degradation of the antibiotics and textile waste from water. The morphology, crystallinity and band gap of the samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-visible spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provide the binding information of the sample. The photocatalytic activity was tested for degradation of the antibiotics (tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) and metronidazole (MNZ)) used in COVID-19 treatment and textile dye (malachite green). Time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy confirmed the enhanced charge separation in the MoSe2@ZIF-8 nanocomposite with an average lifetime of 4.72 ns as compared to pristine samples. The nanocomposite showed ~ 100% removal efficiency with rate constants of 63 × 10-3, 49 × 10-3 and 42 × 10-3 min-1 for TC, MNZ and malachite green, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation of TC was carried out under different pH conditions (4, 7 and 9), and the degradation mechanism was explained on the basis of zeta potential measurements and active species trapping experiment. The by-products of the photocatalytic treatment of TC antibiotics were tested using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS), and they were found to be non-toxic for aquatic and human life. The regeneration property of the nanocomposite was confirmed by FESEM with regeneration efficiency of 88.7% in the 4th cycle. Thus, MoSe2@ZIF-8-based photocatalysts have potential application in water remediation, especially in making the antibiotic waste less toxic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honey Mittal
- Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Aruna Ivaturi
- Smart Materials Research and Device Technology (SMaRDT) Group, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1XL, UK
| | - Manika Khanuja
- Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India.
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Dey S, Anand U, Kumar V, Kumar S, Ghorai M, Ghosh A, Kant N, Suresh S, Bhattacharya S, Bontempi E, Bhat SA, Dey A. Microbial strategies for degradation of microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste. Environ Res 2023; 216:114438. [PMID: 36179880 PMCID: PMC9514963 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic has led to the generation of massive plastic wastes, comprising of onetime useable gloves, masks, tissues, and other personal protective equipment (PPE). Recommendations for the employ of single-use disposable masks made up of various polymeric materials like polyethylene, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, and polypropylene, polystyrene, can have significant aftermath on environmental, human as well as animal health. Improper disposal and handling of healthcare wastes and lack of proper management practices are creating serious health hazards and an extra challenge for the local authorities designated for management of solid waste. Most of the COVID-19 medical wastes generated are now being treated by incineration which generates microplastic particles (MPs), dioxin, furans, and various toxic metals, such as cadmium and lead. Moreover, natural degradation and mechanical abrasion of these wastes can lead to the generation of MPs which cause a serious health risk to living beings. It is a major threat to aquatic lives and gets into foods subsequently jeopardizing global food safety. Moreover, the presence of plastic is also considered a threat owing to the increased carbon emission and poses a profound danger to the global food chain. Degradation of MPs by axenic and mixed culture microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, microalgae etc. can be considered an eco-sustainable technique for the mitigation of the microplastic menace. This review primarily deals with the increase in microplastic pollution due to increased use of PPE along with different disinfection methods using chemicals, steam, microwave, autoclave, and incineration which are presently being employed for the treatment of COVID-19 pandemic-related wastes. The biological treatment of the MPs by diverse groups of fungi and bacteria can be an alternative option for the mitigation of microplastic wastes generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satarupa Dey
- Department of Botany, Shyampur Siddheswari Mahavidyalaya (affiliated to University of Calcutta), Howrah-711312, West Bengal, India.
| | - Uttpal Anand
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben Gurion, 8499000, Israel
| | - Vineet Kumar
- Waste Re-processing Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India; Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Engineering and Sciences, GD Goenka University, Sohna Road, Gurugram, Haryana,122103, India.
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Waste Re-processing Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mimosa Ghorai
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Arabinda Ghosh
- Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781014, Assam, India
| | - Nishi Kant
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi, 110016, India
| | - S Suresh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, 462 003, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sayan Bhattacharya
- School of Ecology and Environment Studies, Nalanda University, Rajgir, Nalanda, 803116, Bihar, India
| | - Elza Bontempi
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sartaj Ahmad Bhat
- Waste Re-processing Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India; River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, West Bengal, India.
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Ramalingam S, Thamizhvel R, Sudagar S, Silambarasan R. Production of third generation bio-fuel through thermal cracking process by utilizing Covid-19 plastic wastes. Mater Today Proc 2023; 72:1618-1623. [PMID: 36213622 PMCID: PMC9529355 DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.09.430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
During this pandemic, it has become customary to wear a face waste mask to guard against coronavirus illness (COVID-19). However, huge production of face waste masks, PPE kit and gloves pose environmental risks, since existing disposal methods such as incineration and reclamation which are emitting hazardous substances. In the present study covid-19 medical waste material like waste face waste masks; gloves and PPE kit (personal protective equipment) are considered as the feedstock for the thermal degradation process. Mainly nylon, polyethylene and polypropylene compounds are present in the Covid-19 medical waste compounds, further feedstock material is subjected to physical characterization process like proximate, ultimate and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), to determine the moisture, ash, volatile matter and decomposition temperature respectively. The waste waste mask has lower ash content of 9.7 %, whereas gloves and other PPEs has 11.8 and 11.2 % of ash respectively. Similarly volatile matter is also higher for waste waste mask than other feed stocks. Pyrolysis process is carried out between a temperature range of 100 °C to 700 °C and the products of the pyrolysis process are pyrolytic liquid, gas and residue. The maximum pyrolytic oil is produced from waste masks, gloves and other PPE kit at 300, 350 and 320 °C respectively. The calorific value of the pyrolytic oil from waste mask, gloves and other PPE kit possess 40.85,40.11,40.31 MJ/kg respectively, which indicates that all the pyrolytic oil has closer to the diesel fuel. Therefore pyroltic oil obtained from the Covid-19 medical waste can be used as an alternative fuel for CI engine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R. Thamizhvel
- IFET College of Engineering, Villupuram, India,Corresponding author
| | - S. Sudagar
- University College of Engineering, Villupuram, India
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Dharmaraj S, Ashokkumar V, Chew KW, Chia SR, Show PL, Ngamcharussrivichai C. Novel strategy in biohydrogen energy production from COVID - 19 plastic waste: A critical review. Int J Hydrogen Energy 2022; 47:42051-42074. [PMID: 34776598 PMCID: PMC8576595 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.08.236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Usage of plastics in the form of personal protective equipment, medical devices, and common packages has increased alarmingly during these pandemic times. Though they have served as an excellent protection source in minimizing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreading, they have still emerged as major environmental pollutants nowadays. These non-degradable COVID-19 plastic wastes (CPW) were treated through incineration and landfilling process, which may lead to either the release of harmful gases or contaminating the surrounding environment. Further, they can cause numerous health hazards to the human and animal populations. These plastic wastes can be efficiently managed through thermochemical processes like pyrolysis or gasification, which assist in degrading the plastic waste and also effectively convert them into useful energy-yielding products. The pyrolysis process promotes the formation of liquid fuels and chemicals, whereas gasification leads to syngas and hydrogen fuel production. These energy-yielding products can help to compensate for the fossil fuels depletion in the near future. There are many insights explained in terms of the types of reactors and influential factors that can be adopted for the pyrolysis and gasification process, to produce high efficient energy products from the wastes. In addition, advanced technologies including co-gasification and two-stage gasification were also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selvakumar Dharmaraj
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Academy of Maritime Education and Training [AMET] (Deemed to be University), Chennai 603112, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Veeramuthu Ashokkumar
- Center of Excellence in Catalysis for Bioenergy and Renewable Chemicals (CBRC), Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kit Wayne Chew
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia, Jalan Sunsuria, Bandar Sunsuria, 43900, Sepang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, Fujian, China
| | - Shir Reen Chia
- Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Chawalit Ngamcharussrivichai
- Center of Excellence in Catalysis for Bioenergy and Renewable Chemicals (CBRC), Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology (PETROMAT), Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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Al Qahtani S, Al Wuhayb F, Manaa H, Younis A, Sehar S. Environmental impact assessment of plastic waste during the outbreak of COVID-19 and integrated strategies for its control and mitigation. Rev Environ Health 2022; 37:585-596. [PMID: 34592070 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many positive shifts have been observed in the ecosystem, with a significant decrease in the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. On the other hand, there were unavoidable negative shifts due to a surge in demand for plastic products such as food and groceries' delivery packaging, single-use plastics, medical and personal protective equipment to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Plastic pollution can be considered as a key environmental issue in world due to the huge footprints of plastics on natural ecosystems and public health. Herein, we presented an overview on the rise of plastic pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential sources of plastic waste during COVID-19 with its negative effects on the environment such as marine ecosystems and the global economics are highlighted. We also suggested some strategies and recommendations to tackle plastic leakages by applying feedstock recycling, sterilization, and with the use of biodegradable plastics that have become a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel plastics. Also, the importance of elevating public awareness and some recommendations to mitigate plastic generated during the pandemic has been addressed as well.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fatimah Al Wuhayb
- College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Hacene Manaa
- Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Adnan Younis
- Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Shama Sehar
- College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain
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Yan CZ, Nzioka AM, Sim YJ, Meshalkin VP, Kim YJ. Thermal Degradation Characteristic and Kinetic Analysis of the Solid Byproducts Recovered from Vacuum Pressurized/Friction Thermal Sterilization of Hospital Solid Wastes. Theor Found Chem Eng 2022. [PMCID: PMC9880945 DOI: 10.1134/s0040579522060185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Z. Yan
- Hubei University of Automotive Technology, Shiyan, China
| | | | - Y. J. Sim
- Silla Entech Co., Ltd, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - V. P. Meshalkin
- Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Y. J. Kim
- Silla Entech Co., Ltd, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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Kang D, Anuja A, Narayanamoorthy S, Gangemi M, Ahmadian A. A dual hesitant q-rung orthopair enhanced MARCOS methodology under uncertainty to determine a used PPE kit disposal. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:89625-89642. [PMID: 35857161 PMCID: PMC9296901 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21601-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Healthcare waste management is regarded as the most critical concern that the entire world is currently and will be confronted with in the near future. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the significant growth in medical waste frightened the globe, prompting it to investigate safe disposal methods. Plastics are developing as a severe environmental issue as a result of their increased use during the COVID-19 pandemic which has triggered a global catastrophe and prompted concerns about plastic waste management. One of the biggest challenges in this circumstance is the disposal of discarded PPE kits. The purpose of this research is to find a viable disposal treatment procedure for enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) (facemasks, gloves, and other protective equipment) and other single-use plastic medical equipment waste in India during the COVID-19 crises, which will aid in effectively reducing their increasing quantity. To analyse the PPE waste disposal problem in India, we used the fuzzy Measurement Alternatives and Ranking according to the Compromise Solution (MARCOS) technique, which included the dual hesitant q-rung orthopair fuzzy set. The fuzzy Best Worst Method (BWM), which is compatible with the existing MCDM approaches, is used to establish the criteria weights. Sensitivity and comparative analyses are utilised to confirm the stability and validity of the proposed strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daekook Kang
- Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Institute of Digital Anti-aging Healthcare, Inje University 197 Inje-ro, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 50834 Republic of Korea
| | - Arumugam Anuja
- Department of Mathematics, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046 India
| | | | - Mariangela Gangemi
- Department of Law, Economics and Human Sciences (DiGiES) University, Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Ali Ahmadian
- College of Science and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou, China
- Department of Mathematics, Near East University, Nicosia, TRNC Mersin 10 Turkey
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Ullah F, Ji G, Irfan M, Gao Y, Shafiq F, Sun Y, Ain QU, Li A. Adsorption performance and mechanism of cationic and anionic dyes by KOH activated biochar derived from medical waste pyrolysis. Environ Pollut 2022; 314:120271. [PMID: 36167162 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The massive generation of medical waste (MW) results in a series of environmental, social, and ecological problems. Pyrolysis is one such approach that has attracted more attention because of the production of value-added products with lesser environmental risk. In this study, the activated biochar (ABC600) was obtained from MW pyrolysis and activated with KOH. The adsorption mechanism of activated biochar on cationic (methylene blue) and anionic (reactive yellow) dyes were studied. The physicochemical characterization of biochar showed that increasing pyrolysis temperature and KOH activation resulted in increased surface area, a rough surface with a clear porous structure, and sufficient functional groups. MB and RYD-145 adsorption on ABC600 was more consistent with Langmuir isotherm (R2 ≥ 0.996) and pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 ≥ 0.998), indicating chemisorption with monolayer characteristics. The Langmuir model fitting demonstrated that MB and RYD-145 had maximum uptake capacities of 922.2 and 343.4 mg⋅g-1. The thermodynamics study of both dyes showed a positive change in enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°), revealing the endothermic adsorption behavior and randomness in dye molecule arrangement on activated-biochar/solution surface. The activated biochar has excellent adsorption potential for cationic and anionic dyes; hence, it can be considered an economical and efficient adsorbent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahim Ullah
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Guozhao Ji
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- Trier College of Sustainable Technology, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Farishta Shafiq
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Ye Sun
- Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Qurat Ul Ain
- Institute of Environmental Engineering Research (IEER), UET Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Aimin Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
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Tian L, Li R, Sun Y, Zou J, Liu S, Ma P, Tao H, Qing C, Li C, Yellezuome D, Cai J. Insight into derivative Weibull mixture model in describing simulated distributed activation energy model and distillers dried grains with solubles pyrolysis processes. Waste Manag 2022; 153:219-228. [PMID: 36116216 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The kinetics of biomass pyrolysis is fundamental for exploring its mechanisms and optimizing its processes, which is helpful for designing its systems. The derivative Weibull mixture model was proposed for kinetic description of the simulated distribution energy model (DAEM) processes and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) pyrolysis processes. The conversion rate data of these processes at different heating rates could be accurately described by the derivative Weibull mixture model. Moreover, the proposed model could effectively smooth the noises contained in the experimental conversion rate data of DDGS pyrolysis. The derivative Weibull mixture model separated DDGS pyrolysis reactions into several individual processes, and provided some data required for further isoconversional kinetic analysis. The predicted curves from the derivative Weibull mixture model allowed us to obtain the effective activation energies of DDGS pyrolysis, which varied significantly from 170 to 330 kJ mol-1 in the conversion range between 0.1 and 0.9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liying Tian
- Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Ministry of Agriculture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Ruotong Li
- Biomass Energy Engineering Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yilan Sun
- Biomass Energy Engineering Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jianfeng Zou
- Biomass Energy Engineering Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Shengyong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Ministry of Agriculture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
| | - Peng Ma
- Research and Development Center of High Value Utilization of Biomass, Zhengzhou University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450044, China
| | - Hongge Tao
- Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Ministry of Agriculture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chunyao Qing
- Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Ministry of Agriculture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chong Li
- Biomass Energy Engineering Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Dominic Yellezuome
- Biomass Energy Engineering Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Junmeng Cai
- Biomass Energy Engineering Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
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Cao C, Li J, Liu J, Liu J, Qiu H, Zhen J. Sustainable development-oriented location-transportation integrated optimization problem regarding multi-period multi-type disaster medical waste during COVID-19 pandemic. Ann Oper Res 2022:1-47. [PMID: 36035452 PMCID: PMC9395823 DOI: 10.1007/s10479-022-04820-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
After the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, devising an effective reverse logistics supply chain to clean up disaster medical waste is conducive to controlling and containing novel coronavirus transmission. Thus, the focus of this paper concentrates on multi-period multi-type disaster medical waste location-transportation integrated optimization problem with the concern of sustainability, which is formulated as a tri-objective mixed-integer programming model with the goals of maximizing total economic benefits, minimizing total carbon emissions and total potential social risks. Then, a real-world case from Wuhan using CPLEX solver is used to validate the developed model. Results indicate that constructing DMWTTSs with flexible capacity in different periods is encouraged to handle the sharply increasing disaster medical waste. The multi-period decision model outperforms the single-period one in disaster medical waste supply chains because the former has the capability of handling the uncertainties in the future periods. Increasingly, since the increase of budget doesn't always work well and social resources are limited, the estimation of minimum budget to obtain optimum overall performance is of great importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cejun Cao
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Chongqing’s Modern Trade Logistics & Supply Chain, School of Management Science and Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
| | - Juan Li
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ju Liu
- School of Business Administration, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiahui Liu
- School of Business Administration, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hanguang Qiu
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Zhen
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
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Luo X, Liao W. Collaborative Reverse Logistics Network for Infectious Medical Waste Management during the COVID-19 Outbreak. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19159735. [PMID: 35955091 PMCID: PMC9368570 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The development of COVID-19 in China has gradually become normalized; thus, the prevention and control of the pandemic has encountered new problems: the amount of infectious medical waste (IMW) has increased sharply; the location of outbreaks are highly unpredictable; and the pandemic occurs everywhere. Thus, it is vital to design an effective IMW reverse logistics network to cope with these problems. This paper firstly introduces mobile processing centers (MPCs) into an IMW reverse logistics network for resource-saving, quick response, and the sufficient capacity of processing centers. Then, a multi-participant-based (public central hospitals, disposal institutions, the logistics providers, and the government) collaborative location and a routing optimization model for IMW reverse logistics are built from an economic, environmental perspective. An augmented ε-constraint method is developed to solve this proposed model. Through a case study in Chongqing, it is found that for uncertain outbreak situations, fixed processing centers (FPCs) and MPCs can form better disposal strategies. MPC can expand the processing capacity flexibly in response to the sudden increase in IMW. The results demonstrate good performance in reduction in cost and infection risk, which could greatly support the decision making of IMW management for the government in the pandemic prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Luo
- School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
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42
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Wang P, Gu X, Xue M, Li Y, Dong S, Chen G, Zhang J. Resource utilization of medical waste under COVID-19: Waste mask used as crude oil fluidity improver. J Clean Prod 2022; 358:131903. [PMID: 35530255 PMCID: PMC9061095 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The disposal of medical waste has become an increasing environmental issue since the COVID-19 epidemic outbreaks. Conventional disposal methods have produced waste of fossil resources and environmental problems. In this study, the waste medical mask-derived materials were tested as viscosity reducer and pour point depressant to evaluate the possibility of being used as crude oil fluidity improver. The results show that the materials derived from the three parts of the waste medical mask can reduce the viscosity and pour point of each crude oil samples from different oilfields in China. The middle layer of the medical mask (PP-2) displays the highest efficiency, and the viscosity reduction rate and maximum pour point reduction reaches 81% and 8.3 °C at 500 ppm, respectively. A probable mechanism of improving rheological properties of the crude oil samples by the medical mask-derived materials was further proposed after the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and the wax crystal morphology analysis. We hope this work could provide a way to solve the current environmental issues under COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China
| | - Xuefan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China
| | - Ming Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China
| | - Yongfei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China
- Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Reservoir Protection Technology of Oilfields, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China
| | - Sanbao Dong
- Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Reservoir Protection Technology of Oilfields, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China
| | - Gang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China
- Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Reservoir Protection Technology of Oilfields, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China
- Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Reservoir Protection Technology of Oilfields, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China
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43
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Mohamed BA, Fattah IMR, Yousaf B, Periyasamy S. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment, waste management, and energy sectors: a deeper look into the long-term impacts. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:46438-46457. [PMID: 35499739 PMCID: PMC9059688 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20259-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic not only has caused a global health crisis but also has significant environmental consequences. Although many studies are confirming the short-term improvements in air quality in several countries across the world, the long-term negative consequences outweigh all the claimed positive impacts. As a result, this review highlights the positive and the long-term negative environmental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by evaluating the scientific literature. Remarkable reduction in the levels of CO (3 - 65%), NO2 (17 - 83%), NOx (24 - 47%), PM2.5 (22 - 78%), PM10 (23 - 80%), and VOCs (25 - 57%) was observed during the lockdown across the world. However, according to this review, the pandemic put enormous strain on the present waste collection and treatment system, resulting in ineffective waste management practices, damaging the environment. The extensive usage of face masks increased the release of microplastics/nanoplastics (183 to 1247 particles piece-1) and organic pollutants in land and water bodies. Furthermore, the significant usages of anti-bacterial hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and pharmaceuticals have increased the accumulation of various toxic emerging contaminants (e.g., triclocarban, triclosan, bisphenol-A, hydroxychloroquine) in the treated sludge/biosolids and discharged wastewater effluent, posing great threats to the ecosystems. This review also suggests strategies to create long-term environmental advantages. Thermochemical conversions of solid wastes including medical wastes and for treated wastewater sludge/biosolids offer several advantages through recovering the resources and energy and stabilizing/destructing the toxins/contaminants and microplastics in the precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Badr A Mohamed
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt.
| | - I M Rizwanul Fattah
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater (CTWW), Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007 NSW, Australia
| | - Balal Yousaf
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Selvakumar Periyasamy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Adama Science and Technology University, 1888, Adama, Ethiopia
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Liu S, Zhang J, Niu B, Liu L, He X. A novel hybrid multi-criteria group decision-making approach with intuitionistic fuzzy sets to design reverse supply chains for COVID-19 medical waste recycling channels. Comput Ind Eng 2022; 169:108228. [PMID: 35601730 PMCID: PMC9116081 DOI: 10.1016/j.cie.2022.108228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to exponential growth in COVID-19 medical waste (CMW) generation worldwide. This tremendous growth in CMW is a major transmission medium for COVID-19 virus and thus brings serious challenges to medical waste (MW) management. Designing an efficient and reliable CMW reverse supply chain in this situation can help to prevent epidemic spread. Nowadays, the assessment of CMW recycling channels has become a challenging mission for health-care institutions, especially in developing countries. It can be seen as a complex multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) problem that requires the consideration of multiple conflicting tangible and intangible criteria. Nevertheless, few academics have been concerned about this issue. Moreover, current MCGDM methods have limited support for CMW recycling channel evaluation and they do not consider hospitals' reverse supply chain strategy when evaluating. Thus, this study presents a novel MCGDM approach based on intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) and the VIKOR method for assessing the capacity of CWM recycling channels. According to the characteristics of CMW, processing flow and the TOE (Technology, Organization and Environment) theoretical framework, we established a new CMW recycling channel capacity evaluation index system which makes our proposed method more targeted and efficient. In the decision-making process, we integrate the best-worst method (BWM) and entropy to determine the decision makers (DMs) weighting in a more comprehensive way, considering both subjective and objective criteria, which was ignored by many MCGDM methods. A new aggregation operator called IFWA is proposed by us, considering the priority of DMs. Based on both the ranking of capacity and disposal charges, we then position the alternatives in the recycling channel priority index (RCPI) matrix constructed by us. According to this PCPI matrix and the reverse supply chain strategy of hospitals, a more reasonable CMW allocation strategy is determined and a more efficient CMW reverse supply chain is designed. Finally, a real case study from Wuhan was examined to illustrate the validation of our approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Liu
- School of Logistics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China
| | - Jinxin Zhang
- School of Logistics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China
| | - Ben Niu
- College of Management, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Institute of Big Data Intelligent Management and Decision, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ling Liu
- School of Logistics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China
| | - Xiaojun He
- School of Logistics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China
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45
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Nabavi-Pelesaraei A, Mohammadkashi N, Naderloo L, Abbasi M, Chau KW. Principal of environmental life cycle assessment for medical waste during COVID-19 outbreak to support sustainable development goals. Sci Total Environ 2022; 827:154416. [PMID: 35276163 PMCID: PMC8904000 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Disposal of medical waste (MW) must be considered as a vital need to prevent the spread of pandemics during Coronavirus disease of the pandemic in 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the globe. In addition, many concerns have been raised due to the significant increase in the generation of MW in recent years. A structured evaluation is required as a framework for the quantifying of potential environmental impacts of the disposal of MW which ultimately leads to the realization of sustainable development goals (SDG). Life cycle assessment (LCA) is considered as a practical approach to examine environmental impacts of any potential processes during all stages of a product's life, including material mining, manufacturing, and delivery. As a result, LCA is known as a suitable method for evaluating environmental impacts for the disposal of MW. In this research, existing scenarios for MW with a unique approach to emergency scenarios for the management of COVID-19 medical waste (CMW) are investigated. In the next step, LCA and its stages are defined comprehensively with the CMW management approach. Moreover, ReCiPe2016 is the most up-to-date method for computing environmental damages in LCA. Then the application of this method for defined scenarios of CMW is examined, and interpretation of results is explained regarding some examples. In the last step, the process of selecting the best environmental-friendly scenario is illustrated by applying weighting analysis. Finally, it can be concluded that LCA can be considered as an effective method to evaluate the environmental burden of CMW management scenarios in present critical conditions of the world to support SDG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Nabavi-Pelesaraei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering of Biosystems, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
| | - Naghmeh Mohammadkashi
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science & Engineering, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Leila Naderloo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering of Biosystems, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
| | - Mahsa Abbasi
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Kwok-Wing Chau
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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Chen Z, Zhang W, Yang H, Min K, Jiang J, Lu D, Huang X, Qu G, Liu Q, Jiang G. A pandemic-induced environmental dilemma of disposable masks: solutions from the perspective of the life cycle. Environ Sci Process Impacts 2022; 24:649-674. [PMID: 35388819 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00509j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has swept the world and still afflicts humans. As an effective means of protection, wearing masks has been widely adopted by the general public. The massive use of disposable masks has raised some emerging environmental and bio-safety concerns: improper handling of used masks may transfer the attached pathogens to environmental media; disposable masks mainly consist of polypropylene (PP) fibers which may aggravate the global plastic pollution; and the risks of long-term wearing of masks are elusive. To maximize the utilization and minimize the risks, efforts have been made to improve the performance of masks (e.g., antivirus properties and filtration efficiency), extend their functions (e.g., respiration monitoring and acting as a sampling device), develop new disinfection methods, and recycle masks. Despite that, from the perspective of the life cycle (from production, usage, and discard to disposal), comprehensive solutions are urgently needed to solve the environmental dilemma of disposable masks in both technologies (e.g., efficient use of raw materials, prolonging the service life, and enabling biodegradation) and policies (e.g., stricter industry criteria and garbage sorting).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zigu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Weican Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Hang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Ke Min
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
- Key Laboratory of Phytochemical R&D of Hunan Province, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology & Traditional Chinese Medicine Research, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Dawei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Xiu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Guangbo Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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Ray SS, Lee HK, Huyen DTT, Chen SS, Kwon YN. Microplastics waste in environment: A perspective on recycling issues from PPE kits and face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Environ Technol Innov 2022; 26:102290. [PMID: 35036477 PMCID: PMC8748211 DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2022.102290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the extensive use of face masks and protective personal equipment (PPE) kits has led to increasing degree of microplastic pollution (MP) because they are typically discarded into the seas, rivers, streets, and other parts of the environment. Currently, microplastic (MP) pollution has a negative impact on the environment because of high-level fragmentation. Typically, MP pollution can be detected by various techniques, such as microscopic analysis, density separation, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. However, there are limited studies on disposable face masks and PPE kits. A wide range of marine species ingest MPs in the form of fibers and fragments, which directly affect the environment and human health; thus, more research and development are needed on the effect of MP pollution on human health. This article provides a perspective on the origin and distribution of MP pollution in waterbodies (e.g., rivers, ponds, lakes, and seas) and wastewater treatment plants, and reviews the possible remediation of MP pollution related to the excessive disposal of face masks and PPE kits to aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Sinha Ray
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea
| | - Hyung Kae Lee
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea
| | - Dao Thi Thanh Huyen
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea
| | - Shiao-Shing Chen
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan
| | - Young-Nam Kwon
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea
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Skrzyniarz M, Sajdak M, Zajemska M, Iwaszko J, Biniek-poskart A, Skibiński A, Morel S, Niegodajew P. Plastic Waste Management towards Energy Recovery during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Example of Protective Face Mask Pyrolysis. Energies 2022; 15:2629. [DOI: 10.3390/en15072629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents an assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the waste management sector, and then, based on laboratory tests and computer calculations, indicates how to effectively manage selected waste generated during the pandemic. Elemental compositions—namely, C, H, N, S, Cl, and O—were determined as part of the laboratory tests, and the pyrolysis processes of the above wastes were analysed using the TGA technique. The calculations were performed for a pilot pyrolysis reactor with a continuous flow of 240 kg/h in the temperature range of 400–900 °C. The implemented calculation model was experimentally verified for the conditions of the refuse-derived fuel (RDF) pyrolysis process. As a result of the laboratory tests and computer simulations, comprehensive knowledge was obtained about the pyrolysis of protective masks, with particular emphasis on the gaseous products of this process. The high calorific value of the pyrolysis gas, amounting to approx. 47.7 MJ/m3, encourages the management of plastic waste towards energy recovery. The proposed approach may be helpful in the initial assessment of the possibility of using energy from waste, depending on its elemental composition, as well as in the assessment of the environmental effects.
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49
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Sedej O, Mbonimpa E, Sleight T, Slagley J. Application of Machine Learning to Predict the Performance of an EMIPG Reactor Using Data from Numerical Simulations. Energies 2022; 15:2559. [DOI: 10.3390/en15072559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Microwave-driven plasma gasification technology has the potential to produce clean energy from municipal and industrial solid wastes. It can generate temperatures above 2000 K (as high as 30,000 K) in a reactor, leading to complete combustion and reduction of toxic byproducts. Characterizing complex processes inside such a system is however challenging. In previous studies, simulations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) produced reproducible results, but the simulations are tedious and involve assumptions. In this study, we propose machine-learning models that can be used in tandem with CFD, to accelerate high-fidelity fluid simulation, improve turbulence modeling, and enhance reduced-order models. A two-dimensional microwave-driven plasma gasification reactor was developed in ANSYS (Ansys, Canonsburg, PA, USA) Fluent (a CFD tool), to create 644 (geometry and temperature) datasets for training six machine-learning (ML) models. When fed with just geometry datasets, these ML models were able to predict the proportion of the reactor area with temperature above 2000 K. This temperature level is considered a benchmark to prevent formation of undesirable byproducts. The ML model that achieved highest prediction accuracy was the feed forward neural network; the mean absolute error was 0.011. This novel machine-learning model can enable future optimization of experimental microwave plasma gasification systems for application in waste-to-energy.
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50
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Zheng X, Liu X, Zhang L, Wang Z, Yuan Y, Li J, Li Y, Huang H, Cao X, Fan Z. Toxicity mechanism of Nylon microplastics on Microcystis aeruginosa through three pathways: Photosynthesis, oxidative stress and energy metabolism. J Hazard Mater 2022; 426:128094. [PMID: 34952496 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Nylon has been widely used all over the world, and most of it eventually enters the aquatic environment in the form of microplastics (MPs). However, the impact of Nylon MPs on aquatic ecosystem remains largely unknown. Thus, the long-term biological effects and toxicity mechanism of Nylon MPs on Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) were explored in this study. Results demonstrated that Nylon MPs had a dose-dependent growth inhibition of M. aeruginosa at the initial stage, and the maximum inhibition rate reached to 47.62% at the concentration of 100 mg/L. Meanwhile, Nylon MPs could obstruct photosynthesis electron transfer, reduce phycobiliproteins synthesis, destroy algal cell membrane, enhance the release of extracellular polymeric substances, and induce oxidative stress. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis indicated that Nylon MPs dysregulated the expression of genes involved in tricarboxylic acid cycle, photosynthesis, photosynthesis-antenna proteins, oxidative phosphorylation, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, and porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism. According to the results of transcriptomic and biochemical analysis, the growth inhibition of M. aeruginosa is inferred to be regulated by three pathways: photosynthesis, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism. Our findings provide new insights into the toxicity mechanism of Nylon MPs on freshwater microalgae and valuable data for risk assessment of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Zheng
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xianglin Liu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Liangliang Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zeming Wang
- Jinan Environmental Research Academy, Jinan 250102, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jue Li
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yanyao Li
- Laboratory of Industrial Water and Ecotechnology, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Honghui Huang
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Xin Cao
- Jinan Environmental Research Academy, Jinan 250102, China
| | - Zhengqiu Fan
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
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