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Waste Face Surgical Mask Transformation into Crude Oil and Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers
Author(s) -
Muhyuddin Mohsin,
Filippi Jonathan,
Zoia Luca,
Bonizzoni Simone,
Lorenzi Roberto,
Berretti Enrico,
Capozzoli Laura,
Bellini Marco,
Ferrara Chiara,
Lavacchi Alessandro,
Santoro Carlo
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.202102351
Subject(s) - materials science , pyrolysis , catalysis , fuel cells , chemical engineering , precious metal , nanotechnology , waste management , metal , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering
A novel route for the valorization of waste into valuable products was developed. Surgical masks commonly used for COVID 19 protection by stopping aerosol and droplets have been widely used, and their disposal is critical and often not properly pursued. This work intended to transform surgical masks into platinum group metal‐free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as well as into crude oil. Surgical masks were subjected to controlled‐temperature and ‐atmosphere pyrolysis, and the produced char was then converted into electrocatalysts by functionalizing it with metal phthalocyanine of interest. The electrocatalytic performance characterization towards ORR and HER was carried out highlighting promising activity. At different temperatures, condensable oil fractions were acquired and thoroughly analyzed. Transformation of waste surgical masks into electrocatalysts and crude oil can open new routes for the conversion of waste into valuable products within the core of the circular economy.