A new study published in the Biofuels journal has stated that billions of disposable personal protective equipment that has been produced as a result of the global pandemic could be converted into renewable biofuel.
The group that carried out this research to explore the issues revolving around their disposal noted the content of polypropylene in it, and its potential to be turned into a biofuel. They broke down using a chemical process called pyrolysis at a high temperature of 300 to 400°C for 1 hour without oxygen.
The unmindful disposal of plastic PPE has become a mounting problem. In the wake of this, a study led by Sapna Jain from the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Dehradun, Uttarakhand stated the following. “The transformation into bio-crude — a type of synthetic fuel will not just prevent the severe after-effects to humankind and the environment but also produce a source of energy. Presently, the world is focusing to combat COVID-19, however, we can foresee the issues of economic crisis and ecological imbalance also. We have to prepare ourselves to meet the challenges which are forcefully imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, so as to maintain sustainability.”
The research further states that when the plastic materials are discharged into the environment, they end up as landfills or in the ocean, and do not degrade even after millions of years. It, however, said that this is a suggestive measure for combating this issue and not a permanent solution.