Exploration and Analysis of Biodegradable Polymeric Films Reinforced with Surgical Face Masks Ash

Chemistry Africa. 2024. Vol. 7. No. 2. P. 813–822.

Mahendran R., Dhanabal R., Cifuentes-Faura J., Сринивасан С., Palanivel J.

Disposable Surgical Face Masks (SFMs) are being used in the fght against Corona VIrus Disease-19 (COVID-19) during the pandemic. Since SFMs are made of polymers, their mass production causes severe environmental pollution. To reduce the SFM pollution, we have synthesized ash from the SFMs by incineration. A simple solution casting method is used to blend the surgical face mask ash (SFMA) with biodegradable hydroxypropyl methylcellulose polymer (HPMC). We have successfully adopted the Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) method to fabricate HPMC–SFMA flms using water as the solvent. The successful incorporation of SFM-derived ash into the HPMC matrix was confrmed by FT-IR and FESEM characterization techniques. The addition of SFMA to the HPMC matrix has implications for Young’s modulus, as well as their biodegradation behavior. The incorporation of SFMA in the HPMC matrix changes its stifness and elasticity, potentially afecting the flm’s mechanical performance. Furthermore, while HPMC is biodegradable, the inclusion of SFMA hinders its biodegradation rate and enhances the life span of HPMC. Hence, the HPMC–SFMA flms would be a promising candidate for agricultural mulching and this work leads to a conceptual basis for the production of novel materials in agricultural mulching.

Ключевые слова: waste management, plastic pollution, Surgical face mask waste

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