Experimental investigation on the use of covid-19 waste in bituminous concrete.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented growth in the production and disposal of PPEs, face masks, gloves, face shields, and disinfectants. Daily consumption of masks and PPE has increased the plastic load on the municipality and very few plastics are taken to the recycling during the complete shut down during Covid-19. Plastic pollution is already a matter of concern that is increasing due to the negligence of humans. COVID-19 health crisis puts extra pressure on the regular waste management systems as increased daily consumption of single-use plastics around the world. It leads to the inappropriate management of waste; including mobile incineration, direct land-filling, and local burning of the waste. As the PPE kits and gowns are made of polypropylene plastic, they are non-biodegradable like any other plastics. Incineration and land-filling of plastics do not help them to degrade, even if it increases the number of pollutants in the form of microparticles. In this paper, we discussed the research procedures to utilize the waste plastic specifically Covid-19 waste which is received from the health care clinics in Bituminous concrete for the construction of flexible roads. The main objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the bituminous mix modified with Polypropylene gowns waste and to compare it with the conventional bituminous mix. This research concentrated on the Maximum Stability and Flow Value of the asphalt mixture with the waste. The measurements of the Plastic of 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5 %, and 20% were utilized as substitutions for the bitumen binder in the mix. From the experimental investigation, it is concluded that the optimum bitumen content is found at 10% Plastic waste with 6.5 bitumen content. Bitumen properties also increase with the addition of PPE waste. [copyright information to be updated in production process].

Fabrication and working of portable PPE kit sterilizer using UV Ozone Sanitization process.

Personnel protective equipment, N95 masks, and filtering facepiece respirators such as goggles, face shields, played a very important rolein the safety of bothvirus-affected persons and as well as medical staff, health workers. As the coronavirus (Covid-19) was increasing exponentially worldwide, healthcare has been the demand for this basic equipment especiallyface protection shields have critical issues. There has been an effort to find out the different ways to conserve PPE kits, to use after the sterilization process. The current work focused onthe fabrication of the Portable PPE Kit Sterilizer model using UV Ozone Sanitization Processto utilize for recycling of N95 masks, goggles. Due to its miniature structure, can be used in public health sectors like the hospital, research centers, schools, and laboratories also. The method adopted was cheap, reuse, well suited for mass sanitization.

THE PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACTS WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON COVID-19 SITUATION IN INDIA

Pandemics are for the most part disease outbreaks that become widespread as a result of the spread of human-to-human infection. Throughout the history of mankind, pandemics have consistently produced large-scale demographic, economic and political disruptions. There have been many significant disease outbreaks and pandemics recorded in history, including Spanish Flu, Hong Kong Flu, SARS, H7N9, Ebola, Zika and COVID-19. The COVID-19 impact on the economy has created an unprecedented situation. Almost all sectors of the economy were hit due to this pandemic situation. The main objective is to assess the impact of pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic across the globe with special emphasis on social, ecological and economical aspects. We based our study with an extensive literature search using Google Scholar and Google search engine using the search string “COVID-19* AND pandemic*". We also included complex search strings “pandemic history” AND “pandemic impact”. Lockdown is considered to be an effective measure in slowing the spread of coronavirus around the globe. To further stop the spread of the virus, many countries are currently in some degree of lockdown. Second wave of Corona virus infection with much more spreading and lethality were reported in many countries across the globe. These countries especially United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands and other European countries made reintroduction of strict lockdowns and other regulations to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus has further led to neuropsychiatric issues such as fear, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, psycho-motor excitement, suicidal deaths and a general decrease in overall wellbeing. Because of a significant disruption of supply chains and marketing due to the lockdown, seen at an intra-and inter-state level, farmers have been stuck with a larger amount of perishables like milk, fruits and vegetables. The economic recessions have put significant financial strain on many families, which might increase unhealthy conflict, family breakdown, abuse, depression and domestic violence. The psychological impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown might be a challenge for an indefinite period, hence it is necessary to devise coping strategies, mental health interventions and create awareness using the available resources. © 2022 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

PPE kit to bio-oil: an experimental investigation

Covid 19 is a highly infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that can spread from an infected person’s nose, mouth during coughing & sneezing. One of the warriors against Covid-19 is personal protection equipment (PPE), which is indispensable for everyone working closely with Covid-19 patients. The kits are made of different types of plastics and their disposal is going to be a serious menace, if not taken care of properly. The sustainable alternative to handle cast-off PPE kit is to convert them into pyrolysis oil using a thermochemical process. In the present paper, pyrolysis of PPE kit is done in a lab scale reactor to get the pyrolysis oil that has the potential to be used as alternate fuel in the neat or in blended form with conventional fuels. GC-MS of the obtained oil shows the presence of (C-7 to C-32) hydrocarbon fraction. FTIR analysis of the oil is also done for functional group composition. The results obtained also support the application of pyrolyisis oil as an alternate fuel. Physico-chemical characteristics of the pyrolysis oil sample are also comparable to the commercially available fuel with exception of viscosity as the fuel obtained has not been fractionated and has both light and heavy naphtha. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Hail the healers in the hell of Covid 19 pandemic.

The condition of the world is different in the year 2021. People who were busy with their daily life and all the social activity have realized that tables can turn over at any moment of time. It's the COVID-19 pandemic this year. The world has seen the importance of health care workers all around the globe. All the countries have realized the importance of the health care sector along with the need to expand it further. The importance of spending more financially on a country's health care sector has become utmost important right now. At this time of emergency when humanity is foaling in a way which was never witnessed in the acts of violence against frontline workers, doctors are still not ready to give up on humanity. The human era has witnessed times when people used to laugh out loud about water being sold and now have come to witness such times when even a liter of oxygen is worth millions of Rupees, the conclusion being basic human amenities have started to fade away. Even after witnessing such crises around the globe, and the sacrifices of health care workers, people are still busy creating chaos for them or I would like to say "create a hell-like environment" for them to work in. Even after such a chaotic condition, health care workers are giving their best to control this health care emergency and since time immemorial, they are putting their life at risk for this society which are dwelling devils inside for them.

Microplastics waste in environment: A perspective on recycling issues from PPE kits and face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the extensive use of face masks and protective personal equipment (PPE) kits has led to increasing degree of microplastic pollution (MP) because they are typically discarded into the seas, rivers, streets, and other parts of the environment. Currently, microplastic (MP) pollution has a negative impact on the environment because of high-level fragmentation. Typically, MP pollution can be detected by various techniques, such as microscopic analysis, density separation, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. However, there are limited studies on disposable face masks and PPE kits. A wide range of marine species ingest MPs in the form of fibers and fragments, which directly affect the environment and human health; thus, more research and development are needed on the effect of MP pollution on human health. This article provides a perspective on the origin and distribution of MP pollution in waterbodies (e.g., rivers, ponds, lakes, and seas) and wastewater treatment plants, and reviews the possible remediation of MP pollution related to the excessive disposal of face masks and PPE kits to aquatic environments.