Conversion of Waste Surgical Mask Into Energy Rich Oil by Pyrolysis Using Fly Ash as Catalyst

Waste mask has been subjected to catalytic pyrolysis. Fly ash used as catalyst. Biogas, formed by the degradation of food waste, is used as the heating agent. Optimum conditions for pyrolysis were determined by the TGA and DTA analysis of the mask. Waste mask was completely converted into oil and gaseous products. The fraction after distillation is the high boiling fraction. By this, the physical properties of both fractions have been determined using standard methods. The physical characteristics of both the low and high boiling fractions are almost very similar to that of petrol and diesel respectively. Both fractions were subjected recorded analysis the GCMS. 1 H , 13 C NMR and IR spectra were recorded for both fractions. Elemental analysis was carried out for the mask and both oil fractions. GCMS analysis shows that the low boiling fraction contains thirteen 1-alkenes with 8–12 carbon atoms and three alcohols without a C = C bond. The high boiling fraction was found to contain nine isomeric alkenes with 12 carbon atoms. This fraction was found to also contain seven alcohols without C = C bond. NMR, IR spectra and elemental analysis are in support of this composition.