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COVID-19 mask waste to energy via thermochemical pathway: Effect of Co-Feeding food waste.

ABSTRACT: In this study, co-pyrolysis of single-use face mask (for the protection against COVID-19) and food waste was investigated for the purpose of energy and resource valorization of the waste materials. To this end, disposable face mask (a piece of personal protective equipment) was pyrolyzed to produce fuel-range chemicals. The pyrolytic gas evolved from the pyrolysis of the single-use face mask consisted primarily of non-condensable permanent hydrocarbons such as CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₆, and C₃H₈. An increase in pyrolysis temperature enhanced the non-condensable hydrocarbon yields. The pyrolytic gas had a HHV of >40 MJ kg^-1. In addition, hydrocarbons with wider carbon number ranges (e.g., gasoline-, jet fuel-, diesel-, and motor oil-range hydrocarbons) were produced in the pyrolysis of the disposable face mask. The yields of the gasoline-, jet fuel-, and diesel-range hydrocarbons obtained from the single-use mask were highest at 973 K. The pyrolysis of the single-use face mask yielded 14.7 wt% gasoline-, 18.4 wt% jet fuel-, 34.1 wt% diesel-, and 18.1 wt% motor oil-range hydrocarbons. No solid char was produced via the pyrolysis of the disposable face mask. The addition of food waste to the pyrolysis feedstock led to the formation of char, but the presence of the single-use face mask did not affect the properties and energy content of the char. More H₂ and less hydrocarbons were produced by co-feeding food waste in the pyrolysis of the disposable face mask. The results of this study can contribute to thermochemical management and utilization of everyday waste as a source of energy.

SUBMITTER: Park C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8103777 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Feedstocks such as coal, biomass, plastics, and their blends have the potential to serve as fuels for the thermochemical conversion process owing to their relatively high calorific values. Nevertheless, the relative proportion of these feedstock blends has a pivotal influence over the overall energy conversion efficiency. Consequently, conducting a comprehensive study to optimize the blend proportion becomes crucial in order to obtain an optimal fuel. The study aims to investigate the thermochemical characterization and kinetics of blends composed of lignite coal, southern pine biomass, and municipal waste plastic blend to optimize the blend proportion. This optimization has been achieved through an analysis of 12 distinct blends, considering factors such as combustion reaction kinetics, combustion stability, and comprehensive combustion indices. The reaction kinetics, including activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and reaction order, were estimated using various methods, including Vyazovkin, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, Master-plot, and multidistributed activation energy methods. The investigation revealed that increasing the biomass content within the blends enhances both the combustion stability and combustion performance. The multidistributed activation energy model exhibited a good fit with both the experimental thermogravimetric and the derivative thermogravimetric curves, achieving linear regression fitness values of 0.99 and 0.95, respectively. To showcase the viability of these blends as energy generation feedstock, the optimal blend comprised of 60% biomass, 10% coal, and 30% municipal waste plastic blend, possessing the lowest activation energy (110 kJ/mol), was employed as the feedstock for the fluidized bed oxy-steam gasification process. The gasification process resulted in a synthetic gas consisting of 47.79 mol % H2, 27.96 mol % CO, 5.85 mol % CH4, and 18.38 mol % CO2 (nitrogen-free basis) with a cold gas efficiency of 72.88%. The findings of this study can offer valuable insights into global industries engaged in the thermochemical conversion of solid waste materials.

Project description:ObjectiveAguti-related protein (AGRP) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC), which co-express neuropeptide Y (NPY), are key regulators of feeding and energy homeostasis. However, the precise role NPY has within these neurons and the specific pathways that it control are still unclear. In this article, we aimed to determine what aspects of feeding behaviour and energy homeostasis are controlled by NPY originating from AGRP neurons and which Y-receptor pathways are utilised to fulfil this function.MethodsNovel conditional Agrpcre/+;Npylox/lox knockout mice were generated and comprehensively phenotyped, both under standard chow as well as high-fat-diet conditions. Designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) technology was used to assess the altered responses on feeding and energy homeostasis control in the absence of NPY in these neurons. Rescue experiments utilising Npy1r- and Npy2r-selective NPY ligands were performed to assess which component of the energy homeostasis control is dependent by which specific Y-receptor pathway.ResultsWe show that the specific deletion of Npy only in AGRP neurons leads to a paradoxical mild obese phenotype associated with reduced locomotion and energy expenditure and increased feeding and Respiratory Quotient (RQ) that remain elevated under a positive energy balance. The activation of Npy-deficient AGRP neurons via DREADD's is still able to drive feeding, yet with a delayed onset. Additionally, Clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) treatment reduces locomotion without impacting on energy expenditure. Rescue experiments re-introducing Npy1r- and Npy2r-selective NPY ligands revealed that the increased feeding and RQ are mostly driven by Npy1r, whereas energy expenditure and locomotion are controlled by Npy2r signalling.ConclusionTogether, these results demonstrate that NPY originating from AGRP neurons is not only critical to initiate but also for continuously driving feeding, and we for the first time identify which Y-receptor controls which pathway.

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COVID-19 mask waste to energy via thermochemical pathway: Effect of Co-Feeding food waste.

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