Face Masks: From the Coronavirus Crisis and Environmental Challenges to Recycling Opportunities

Document Type : Review Article

Authors
Department of Textile Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, from 2019 to late 2021, caused a substantial rise in contaminated medical waste, largely due to increased use of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly face masks. Despite a recent decline in general use due to the disease becoming endemic and worsening air pollution, waste generation remains high, especially in hospitals. This contaminated waste poses significant risks to human societies and the environment. Pathogenic viruses can survive on these materials, spreading disease through human contact. Additionally, face masks, predominantly made from non-biodegradable polymers, persist in the environment, gradually breaking down into microplastics, nanoplastics, and microfibers. These particles disperse into oceans, rivers, and soil, entering the food chain and disrupting aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystems. In response to these environmental and health challenges, extensive research worldwide aims to find effective waste management solutions. Various review articles and strategies have been proposed. This paper explores the link between face masks and environmental sustainability. It then delves into research on polymer recycling and methods for repurposing face masks into value-added products. This includes examining the potential for fuel production from masks, their application in construction materials like concrete and asphalt, and the feasibility of incorporating them into a circular economy to minimize waste. Finally, the paper will summarize the content, address current limitations and challenges, and offer suggestions for future research directions.
Keywords
Subjects

Article Title Persian

پنام‌ها (ماسک‌ها): از بحران کرونا و چالش‌های زیست‌محیطی تا فرصت‌های بازیافت

Authors Persian

نوید ربیعی
محمد حقیقت‌کیش
دانشکده مهندسی نساجی، دانشگاه صنعتی امیرکبیر(پلی تکنیک تهران)، تهران، ایران
Abstract Persian

همه‌گیری کووید-۱۹، از ۱۳۹۸ تا اواخر ۱۴۰۱ خورشیدی، منجر به افزایش چشمگیری در تولید زباله‌های پزشکی آلوده شد. این افزایش مستقیماً با افزایش استفاده از تجهیزات حفاظت فردی، به‌ویژه پنام‌ها (ماسک‌ها)، مرتبط بود. با وجود کاهش اخیر در استفاده عمومی به دلیل بومی شدن این بیماری و افزایش آلودگی هوا، به نظر می‌رسد تولید این زباله‌ها همچنان بالا است که خطرات متعددی برای جوامع انسانی و محیط زیست ایجاد می‌کنند. ویروس‌های بیماری‌زا می‌توانند روی این مواد زنده بمانند و از طریق تماس انسانی بیماری را گسترش دهند. علاوه بر این، پنام‌ها، عمدتاً از پلیمرهای غیرقابل تجزیه زیستی ساخته شده‌اند، در محیط باقی می‌مانند و به تدریج به میکروپلاستیک‌ها، نانوپلاستیک‌ها و میکرولیف‌ّها تجزیه می‌شوند. این ذرات به راحتی در اقیانوس‌ها، رودخانه‌ها و خاک پخش می‌شوند و در نهایت وارد زنجیره غذایی می‌شوند و به شدت اکوسیستم‌های آبی، زمینی و جوی را مختل می‌کنند. در پاسخ به این چالش‌های زیست‌محیطی و بهداشتی، تلاش‌های تحقیقاتی گسترده‌ای در سراسر جهان برای یافتن راهکارهای مدیریت پسماند انجام شده است. مقالات مروری متعددی منتشر شده و راهکارهای گوناگونی پیشنهاد شده است. این مقاله به بررسی مسئله پنام‌ها و ارتباط آنها با پایداری زیست‌محیطی می‌پردازد. سپس، بر تحقیقات در زمینه بازیافت پلیمر و روش‌های استفاده مجدد از پنام‌ها برای تولید محصولات با ارزش افزوده تمرکز می‌کند. این شامل بررسی تولید سوخت از پنام‌ها، کاربرد آنها در ساخت و ساز مانند بتن و آسفالت و امکان استفاده از آنها در یک اقتصاد دایره‌ای برای به حداقل رساندن ضایعات است. در پایان، این مقاله به کمبودها و چالش ها می پردازد و پیشنهاداتی برای تحقیقات آینده ارائه می دهد.

Keywords Persian

کرونا
کووید ۱۹
پنام
پسماند
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