Hydrogen-rich gas production from disposable COVID-19 mask by steam gasification. (1st January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nam, Ji Young; Lee, Tae Ryeon; Tokmurzin, Diyar; Park, Sung Jin; Ra, Ho Won; Yoon, Sang Jun; Mun, Tae-Young; Yoon, Sung Min; Moon, Ji Hong; Lee, Jae Goo; Lee, Dong Hyun; Seo, Myung Won
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 331:Part 1(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Subjects: AC Activated Carbon -- BFB Bubbling fluidized bed -- CCE Carbon conversion efficiency -- CGE Cold gas efficiency -- DTG Derivative thermos-gravimetry -- FT-IR Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy -- GC Gas chromatography -- GCMS Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry -- IPA Isopropyl alcohol -- LHV Lower Heating Value -- MFC Mass flow controller -- MSW Municipal solid waste -- NDIR Non-Dispersive Infrared Spectroscopy -- PP Polypropylene -- PPE Personal protective equipment -- PU Polyurethane -- RPM revolutions per minute -- TCD Thermal conductivity detector -- HMI Human machine interface; Disposable COVID-19 mask -- Steam gasification -- Fluidized bed -- Activated carbon -- Tar; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125720
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Highlights: Disposable COVID-19 masks are used for hydrogen and product gas source. Steam gasification of masks produces hydrogen-rich gas. Activated carbon were used for tar cracking produced from gasification. More than half of the tar in the mask steam gasification is naphthalene. Abstract: Globally, the demand for masks has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in 490, 201 tons of waste masks disposed of per month. Since masks are used in places with a high risk of virus infection, waste masks retain the risk of virus contamination. In this study, a 1 kg/h lab-scale (diameter: 0.114 m, height: 1 m) bubbling fluidized bed gasifier was used for steam gasification (temperature: 800 °C, steam/carbon (S/C) ratio: 1.5) of waste masks. The use of a downstream reactor with activated carbon (AC) for tar cracking and the enhancement of hydrogen production was examined. Steam gasification with AC produces syngas with H2, CO, CH4, and CO2 content of 38.89, 6.40, 21.69, and 7.34 vol%, respectively. The lower heating value of the product gas was 29.66 MJ/Nm 3 and the cold gas efficiency was 74.55 %. This study showed that steam gasification can be used for the utilization of waste masks and the production of hydrogen-rich gas for further applications.