A thermal degradation study of disposable face mask wastes: determination of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters

The most effective methods to protect from epidemics are to comply with personal hygiene and to use personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves. In this context, the use of disposable face masks has become mandatory in many countries, and accordingly, a type of waste with great potential has emerged in the world. As known that single-use face masks caused enormous waste worldwide and environmentally friendly alternatives must be promoted. This study aims to examine the pyrolysis and combustion behaviors of disposable mask wastes using the thermogravimetric analysis method and to determine the thermal degradation kinetics using Kissenger-Akahira-Sunosa and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods for further utilization areas or disposal. As a result of the analysis, it was seen that the total mass loss occurred in a single temperature range for pyrolysis and combustion, and these losses were approximately 92% and 95%, respectively. The average activation energy values calculated by Kissenger-Akahira-Sunosa and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods were 43.666 kJ mol⁻¹ and 52.126 kJ mol⁻¹ for pyrolysis and 67.774 kJ mol⁻¹ and 73.657 kJ mol⁻¹ for combustion, respectively. According to these results, it has been understood that these wastes are quite suitable for use in pyrolysis and combustion processes.