Recycling respirator masks to a high-value product: From COVID-19 prevention to highly efficient battery separator

Soochan Kim; Xin Yang; Kaiwei Yang; He Guo; Misuk Cho; Young Jun Kim; Youngkwan Lee

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2021.132723

Recycling respirator masks to a high-value product: From COVID-19 prevention to highly efficient battery separator

Soochan Kim
, Xin Yang
, Kaiwei Yang
, He Guo
, Misuk Cho
, Young Jun Kim
, Youngkwan Lee

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

COVID-19 is a pandemic that has caused serious disruption in almost every day-to-day life around the world, and wearing a mask is essential for human safety from this virus. However, masks are non-recyclable materials, and the accumulation of masks used every day causes serious environmental issues. In this study, we investigate the recycling of mask materials for addressing the environmental problems and transforming as a high value-added material through chemical modification of masks. The recycled mask is applied as a separator for aqueous rechargeable batteries, and shows outstanding safety and electrochemical performance than the existing separator. This approach will lead to an advanced energy technology considering nature after overcoming COVID-19.

Original language	English
Article number	132723
Journal	Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume	430
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.132723
State	Published - 15 Feb 2022

Keywords

Battery
COVID-19
Mask
Recycling
Separator

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.cej.2021.132723

Cite this

@article{7dce12c4508a437d8df336188f211d5f,

title = "Recycling respirator masks to a high-value product: From COVID-19 prevention to highly efficient battery separator",

abstract = "COVID-19 is a pandemic that has caused serious disruption in almost every day-to-day life around the world, and wearing a mask is essential for human safety from this virus. However, masks are non-recyclable materials, and the accumulation of masks used every day causes serious environmental issues. In this study, we investigate the recycling of mask materials for addressing the environmental problems and transforming as a high value-added material through chemical modification of masks. The recycled mask is applied as a separator for aqueous rechargeable batteries, and shows outstanding safety and electrochemical performance than the existing separator. This approach will lead to an advanced energy technology considering nature after overcoming COVID-19.",

keywords = "Battery, COVID-19, Mask, Recycling, Separator",

author = "Soochan Kim and Xin Yang and Kaiwei Yang and He Guo and Misuk Cho and Kim, \{Young Jun\} and Youngkwan Lee",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021",

year = "2022",

month = feb,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.cej.2021.132723",

language = "English",

volume = "430",

journal = "Chemical Engineering Journal",

issn = "1385-8947",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Recycling respirator masks to a high-value product

T2 - From COVID-19 prevention to highly efficient battery separator

AU - Kim, Soochan

AU - Yang, Xin

AU - Yang, Kaiwei

AU - Guo, He

AU - Cho, Misuk

AU - Kim, Young Jun

AU - Lee, Youngkwan

PY - 2022/2/15

Y1 - 2022/2/15

N2 - COVID-19 is a pandemic that has caused serious disruption in almost every day-to-day life around the world, and wearing a mask is essential for human safety from this virus. However, masks are non-recyclable materials, and the accumulation of masks used every day causes serious environmental issues. In this study, we investigate the recycling of mask materials for addressing the environmental problems and transforming as a high value-added material through chemical modification of masks. The recycled mask is applied as a separator for aqueous rechargeable batteries, and shows outstanding safety and electrochemical performance than the existing separator. This approach will lead to an advanced energy technology considering nature after overcoming COVID-19.

AB - COVID-19 is a pandemic that has caused serious disruption in almost every day-to-day life around the world, and wearing a mask is essential for human safety from this virus. However, masks are non-recyclable materials, and the accumulation of masks used every day causes serious environmental issues. In this study, we investigate the recycling of mask materials for addressing the environmental problems and transforming as a high value-added material through chemical modification of masks. The recycled mask is applied as a separator for aqueous rechargeable batteries, and shows outstanding safety and electrochemical performance than the existing separator. This approach will lead to an advanced energy technology considering nature after overcoming COVID-19.

KW - Battery

KW - COVID-19

KW - Mask

KW - Recycling

KW - Separator

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85118718567

U2 - 10.1016/j.cej.2021.132723

DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2021.132723

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85118718567

SN - 1385-8947

VL - 430

JO - Chemical Engineering Journal

JF - Chemical Engineering Journal

M1 - 132723

ER -

Recycling respirator masks to a high-value product: From COVID-19 prevention to highly efficient battery separator

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this