STUDENTS RECYCLE MASKS INTO PLASTIC SHEET

The product of PP plastic sheet recycled from waste is a mask made by a group of students from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education.

Authors group Ho Hoang Bao Nhu and Dang Truong Nhan, students of the Faculty of Applied Science, implemented the invention in January 2021 with the guidance of two teachers, Dr. Nguyen Vu Viet Linh and Dr. Tran Thanh Tam. After 3 months, the product was put into testing with the orientation of mask recycling to help protect the environment.

According to the group, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, people still remain wearing masks, so a large number of used masks are discharged into the environment every day. Currently, masks are mainly disposed of by landfilling and burning, which pose a risk of environmental pollution and do not bring economic value.

Realizing that current medical masks are mainly made from PP (Polypropylene) plastic, the group has come up with a solution to utilize materials to recycle into plastic sheets. Used masks will be cleaned to kill bacteria, then dried and cut into small pieces and pressed. After cooling, the finished plastic sheet has a thickness of 2 mm, a mechanical strength of 30 MPa, and an elongation of 8%, which is suitable for current plastics with a strength of 30.5-34.95 MPa.

The team performed the heat press process to create PP plastic sheets in the laboratory. Photo: NVCC

According to Ho Hoang Bao Nhu, the group used heat presses because this is a technology with low cost, high efficiency, and easy application on an industrial scale. With about 2.2 kg of masks, it is possible to produce a PP plastic sheet of 1 m2 area, 2 mm thick, and cost about 300,000 - 400,000 VND.

"The team has tested the mechanical properties of the plastic sheet using specialized, laboratory-scale gauges. When producing on an industrial scale, it is necessary to have an inspection agency for the properties of this material," Nhu said. The group is experimenting to test the impact resistance, waterproofing ability, etc. of the plastic sheet to perfect the technology to ensure the product meets the technical factors.

Regarding the source of materials, the group plans to coordinate with relevant units to mobilize households to participate in mask collection campaigns. To do this, the team proposes to develop mobile applications that encourage mask collectors by exchanging points for gifts, designing a separate trash can for masks, etc.

Finished PP plastic sheet after heat pressing in the laboratory. Photo: NVCC

Evaluating the product, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Dinh Xuan Thang, Director of Hoa Lu Center for Environmental Research and Application, said that heat pressing technology to produce plastic sheets is not new and is now widely applied by many fields. However, with used masks, the team has developed a very suitable recycling solution.

"Recycled plastic sheets from masks can be used as partitions, formwork panels in construction, etc. In addition to the technical factors that need to take into account the aesthetics for the product to have a beautiful design, the applicability is completely feasible", said Associate Professor Thang.

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