Identification of Face Mask Waste Generation and Processing in Tourist Areas with Thermo-Chemical Process

• Published in: Archives of environmental protection Vol. 48; no. 2; pp. 79 - 85
• Main Authors: Sari, Mega Mutiara, Inoue, Takanobu, Septiariva, Iva Yenis, Suryawan, I Wayan Koko, Kato, Shigeru, Harryes, Regil Kentaurus, Yokota, Kuriko, Notodarmojo, Suprihanto, Suhardono, Sapta, Ramadan, Bimastyaji Surya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Warsaw Polish Academy of Sciences 01-01-2022
• Subjects: Beaches; Calorific value; COVID-19; Data collection; mask; Masks; Pandemics; Pollution control; Protective equipment; Tourist areas; Waste disposal; waste management
• ISSN: 2083-4772; 2083-4810
• DOI: 10.24425/aep.2022.140768

The very high need for personal protective equipment (PPE) impacts the waste generated after using these tools. Therefore, to deal with mask waste during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study was carried out on the processing of mask waste using a thermal process and studied how the potential of this process was for the effectiveness of mask waste processing during the pandemic. This research was conducted on Honeymoon Beach by collecting data on mask waste generated during the pandemic, then measuring the waste proximate, ultimate, and calorific value and testing the thermal process using TGA and Piro GC-MS measurements. Most waste masks found on Honeymoon Beach are non-reusable masks, 94.74%, while reusable masks are 5.26%. The waste is then subjected to thermal processing and analysis using TGA and Piro GC-MS. Based on the data obtained, the thermal process can reduce the mass of non-reusable and reusable mask samples by 99.236% and 88.401%, respectively.The results of the Piro GC-MS analysis show that the lit mask waste will produce fragments of compounds that can be reused as fuel. The process is simple and easy and produces residues that can be reused to reduce environmental pollution due to waste generation during the COVID-19 pandemic.