Health risks connected with energy disposal of pandemic waste
Enormous amount of protective masks was consumed in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and they still burden the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to look for possibilities of their disposal in an ecologically acceptable way. This article focuses on particulate matter produced concerning th...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024011708 |
| _version_ | 1827348356552196096 |
|---|---|
| author | Nikola Čajová Kantová Robert Cibula Michal Holubčík Peter Ďurčanský |
| author_facet | Nikola Čajová Kantová Robert Cibula Michal Holubčík Peter Ďurčanský |
| author_sort | Nikola Čajová Kantová |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Enormous amount of protective masks was consumed in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and they still burden the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to look for possibilities of their disposal in an ecologically acceptable way. This article focuses on particulate matter produced concerning the energy disposal of pandemic FFP2 masks. These masks were processed into small pieces, added to spruce and beech wood (in the weight proportion 5 % and 10 % of FFP2 masks) and formed into pellets. The concentration of particulate matter formed during their combustion was measured by the gravimetric method. The inorganic elements were detected from filters with captured particulate matter by an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and verified by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. It was found that higher concentrations of particulate matter were recorded predominantly with a higher mass airflow. In both airflows (40 % and 50 %), beech pellets had a higher mass concentration than spruce pellets probably caused by the presence of bark in beech wood. Based on the chemical composition, the following elements in small amounts (0–2 mg on a filter) were identified: K, S, Cl and Fe. High concentrations of harmful elements carried in particulate matter have not been detected. FFP2 masks added in a small percentage (up to 10 %) can be used in wood pellets for combustion purposes without significantly affecting the combustion process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:11:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a8c5a68afdb405faf575a1572945d06 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:11:05Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a8c5a68afdb405faf575a1572945d062024-02-17T06:39:46ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-02-01103e25139Health risks connected with energy disposal of pandemic wasteNikola Čajová Kantová0Robert Cibula1Michal Holubčík2Peter Ďurčanský3Research Centre, University of Žilina, Univerzitna 8215/1, 010 26, Zilina, Slovakia; Corresponding author.Department of Power Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Žilina, Univerzitna 8215/1, 010 26, Zilina, SlovakiaDepartment of Power Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Žilina, Univerzitna 8215/1, 010 26, Zilina, SlovakiaDepartment of Power Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Žilina, Univerzitna 8215/1, 010 26, Zilina, SlovakiaEnormous amount of protective masks was consumed in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and they still burden the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to look for possibilities of their disposal in an ecologically acceptable way. This article focuses on particulate matter produced concerning the energy disposal of pandemic FFP2 masks. These masks were processed into small pieces, added to spruce and beech wood (in the weight proportion 5 % and 10 % of FFP2 masks) and formed into pellets. The concentration of particulate matter formed during their combustion was measured by the gravimetric method. The inorganic elements were detected from filters with captured particulate matter by an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and verified by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. It was found that higher concentrations of particulate matter were recorded predominantly with a higher mass airflow. In both airflows (40 % and 50 %), beech pellets had a higher mass concentration than spruce pellets probably caused by the presence of bark in beech wood. Based on the chemical composition, the following elements in small amounts (0–2 mg on a filter) were identified: K, S, Cl and Fe. High concentrations of harmful elements carried in particulate matter have not been detected. FFP2 masks added in a small percentage (up to 10 %) can be used in wood pellets for combustion purposes without significantly affecting the combustion process.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024011708Disposal of masksWaste utilizationCOVID-19Particulate matterEmissionsMass concentration |
| spellingShingle | Nikola Čajová Kantová Robert Cibula Michal Holubčík Peter Ďurčanský Health risks connected with energy disposal of pandemic waste Heliyon Disposal of masks Waste utilization COVID-19 Particulate matter Emissions Mass concentration |
| title | Health risks connected with energy disposal of pandemic waste |
| title_full | Health risks connected with energy disposal of pandemic waste |
| title_fullStr | Health risks connected with energy disposal of pandemic waste |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health risks connected with energy disposal of pandemic waste |
| title_short | Health risks connected with energy disposal of pandemic waste |
| title_sort | health risks connected with energy disposal of pandemic waste |
| topic | Disposal of masks Waste utilization COVID-19 Particulate matter Emissions Mass concentration |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024011708 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nikolacajovakantova healthrisksconnectedwithenergydisposalofpandemicwaste AT robertcibula healthrisksconnectedwithenergydisposalofpandemicwaste AT michalholubcik healthrisksconnectedwithenergydisposalofpandemicwaste AT peterdurcansky healthrisksconnectedwithenergydisposalofpandemicwaste |