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Exploration and Analysis of Biodegradable Polymeric Films Reinforced with Surgical Face Masks Ash

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Abstract

Disposable Surgical Face Masks (SFMs) are being used in the fight against Corona VIrus Disease-19 (COVID-19) during the pandemic. Since SFMs are made of polymers, their mass production causes severe environmental pollution. To reduce the SFM pollution, we have synthesized ash from the SFMs by incineration. A simple solution casting method is used to blend the surgical face mask ash (SFMA) with biodegradable hydroxypropyl methylcellulose polymer (HPMC). We have successfully adopted the Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) method to fabricate HPMC–SFMA films using water as the solvent. The successful incorporation of SFM-derived ash into the HPMC matrix was confirmed by FT-IR and FE-SEM characterization techniques. The addition of SFMA to the HPMC matrix has implications for Young’s modulus, as well as their biodegradation behavior. The incorporation of SFMA in the HPMC matrix changes its stiffness and elasticity, potentially affecting the film’s mechanical performance. Furthermore, while HPMC is biodegradable, the inclusion of SFMA hinders its biodegradation rate and enhances the life span of HPMC. Hence, the HPMC–SFMA films would be a promising candidate for agricultural mulching and this work leads to a conceptual basis for the production of novel materials in agricultural mulching.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Development Cell, Anjalai Ammal Mahalingam Engineering College, NH 67, Tanjore - Nagapattinam Main Road, Kovilvenni, 614 403, Tiruvarur District, India

    Rajagopalan Mahendran & Jagadeesan Palanivel

  2. Combinatorial Materials Laboratory, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 502 284, India

    Rengasamy Dhanabal

  3. Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Murcia, Campus Universitario, 11, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Javier Cifuentes-Faura

  4. Laboratory of Complex Systems Modelling and Control, Faculty of Computer Science, HSE University, Moscow, Russia

    Sabarathinam Srinivasan

  5. Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Anjalai Ammal Mahalingam Engineering College, NH67 Tanjore-Velankanni Main Road, Kovilvenni, 614 403, Tiruvarur District, India

    Jagadeesan Palanivel

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  1. Rajagopalan Mahendran
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  2. Rengasamy Dhanabal
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  3. Javier Cifuentes-Faura
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  4. Sabarathinam Srinivasan
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  5. Jagadeesan Palanivel
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Conceptualization, Writing—original draft, Software: MR; Formal analysis, Data curation, Methodology: MR, RD; Investigation, Supervision: SS; Project administration, Visualization, Resources: JP; Validation, Supervision, Writing—review and editing: JC-F.

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Correspondence to Rajagopalan Mahendran.

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Mahendran, R., Dhanabal, R., Cifuentes-Faura, J. et al. Exploration and Analysis of Biodegradable Polymeric Films Reinforced with Surgical Face Masks Ash. Chemistry Africa 7, 813–822 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-023-00804-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-023-00804-2

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