Technology Project: Chenxi Guan

Summary

Since the Outbreak of Covid-19, the use of disposable masks has increased dramatically. The discarded masks have caused significant plastic pollution. Existing disposable mask management methods are limited, where masks are usually landfilled or incinerated. However, the incineration causes air pollution, and the raw material for masks, polypropylene, is difficult to degrade. This article analyses the impact of the pandemic on the use and price of masks in various countries, specifies the masks recycling process of the melt spinning technology, and the impact on the economic and sustainable aspects of the new products made from the recycled material.