A new strategy for butanol extraction from COVID-19 mask using catalytic pyrolysis process over ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst and its kinetic behavior

Abstract

This research aims to develop a new thermochemical strategy to extract butane from the billions of wasted COVID-19 masks that are generated every month. The experiments were conducted with 3-ply face masks (3PFM) over ZSM-5 zeolite with different ratios of ZSM-5 to 3PFM (w/w: 6, 12, 25, and 50 wt.%) using thermogravimetry (TGA) at different heating conditions. Also, the effect of ZSM-5 concentration and heating rates was examined using TG-FTIR and GC–MS measurements. Besides, the kinetics behavior of the developed strategy was modelled using linear and nonlinear isoconversional modeling techniques, thus calculating the activation energy (Ea) for each conversion region. Finally, all required parameters to fit TGA and differential scanning calorimetry (DTG) experimental curves were estimated using the distributed activation energy (DAEM) and the independent parallel reactions (IPR) techniques, respectively. The results showed that the decomposed samples are very rich in aromatic and aliphatic (-C-H) compounds. Meanwhile, and based on GC–MS results, butanol compound was the basic component in the generated compounds with abundance of 31% at 25 wt.% of ZSM-5 at lowest heating rate (5 °C/min), whereas the average Ea at 25% of ZSM-5 (sample enriched with butanol) was estimated in the ranges 158–187 kJ mol−1 (linear methods with R2 > 0.96) and 167–169 kJ/mol (nonlinear methods with R2 > 0.98). Finally, DAEM and IPR succeeded to simulate TGA and DTG curves of ZSM-5/3PFM samples with very small deviation. Based on that, the catalytic pyrolysis strategy over ZSM-5 zeolite can be used effectively to dispose of COVID-19 masks and to convert them into butanol compound that can be used as a liquid fuel and lubricant.