Circular economy for medical devices: Barriers, opportunities and best practices from a design perspective

Resources Conservation and Recycling, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 208, P. 107719 - 107719

Published: May 30, 2024

In an era of electronics-driven healthcare, the disposability many medical devices raises environmental concerns. Transitioning these towards a circular economy, involving practices like reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling, holds promise. Our paper explores this transition through desk research, literature review, expert interviews, examining current state design in electronic devices. We unveil barriers, opportunities, recommendations for circularization. First, we highlight circularity potential currently on market, implementing e.g. refuse, recycle, etc. Second, present barriers device design, (e.g. (perceived) safety infection risks, regulatory difficulties, financial constraints, difficulties collection separation) opportunities to overcome barriers. Finally, 29 design-specific creating insights into healthcare urge engineers integrate sustainable principles development without compromising safety, quality, or functionality.

Language: Английский

---

Chemical-analytical characterization and leaching of heavy metals associated with nanoparticles and microplastics from commercial face masks and the abundance of personal protective equipment (PPE) waste in three metropolitan cities of South America

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 191, P. 114997 - 114997

Published: May 5, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Impact of medical face mask wear on bacterial filtration efficiency and breathability

Environmental Technology & Innovation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28, P. 102897 - 102897

Published: Sept. 3, 2022

Wearing a medical mask for longer than the manufacturer's recommended 4 h would reduce number of masks used and limit their environmental impact. The objective this study was to determine if could be worn an extended period time by simulating different wearing conditions. A simulator developed reproducibly various experimental conditions (wearing time, breathing pattern, fit, inhaled air humidity) placing on 3D replica upper airways connected respiratory pump. Medical performance determined assessing normative requirements: bacterial filtration breathability. No impact observed times from 2 8 h. Similarly, when moderate effort or at rest, humidity levels in fitting conditions, no influence found. These results imply that none these appear have significant performance. In conclusion some can up under without decrease breathability This recommendation possible rise usage duration waste, thus consequence.

Language: Английский

---

Assessment of the filtration efficiency and antibacterial activity of reusable antibacterial face masks after washing

Air Quality Atmosphere & Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 21, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Demonstration of a Home Laundering Method for Cloth Facepieces to Achieve Hygienic and Sustainable Reuse

NEW SOLUTIONS A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 8, 2025

Mask shortages during COVID-19 led to the adoption of reusable textile masks; research into their performance and optimal washing conditions can guide domestic laundering encourage use, decreasing plastic pollution. The study tested four methods for cleaning artificially contaminated facepieces. These included nonbiological detergent at 30°C, Reference Detergent 3 (RD3) 40°C 60°C, fortified RD3 (sodium perborate + tetraacetylethylenediamine) 40°C. After washing, facepieces were tumble- or air-dried. effectiveness was determined by measuring bacteria reduction standard plate count, achieving a target ≥99.99% benchmark cleanliness requirement (for surgical masks) ≤ 30 CFU/g (EN 14683: 2019). All met except 30°C washes with air drying. Oxidative bleach reduced performance. This demonstrates that heavily masks be effectively decontaminated using machines on normal wash cycle (40 degrees).

Language: Английский

---

Applicability of Face Masks as Recyclable Raw Materials for Self-Made Insulation Panels

Energies, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(7), P. 1648 - 1648

Published: March 29, 2024

The circular economy model is based on the 4R framework—reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover. While recycling was primary focus in past, shortage of raw materials desire to reduce carbon footprints have led a change focus: end-of-life are now considered resources rather than waste. When discharged, still possess properties that can be exploited. For this reason, comprehensive characterization reusable mandatory waste increase material availability. reuse materials, such as surgical masks, particular interest giving people disadvantaged contexts opportunity self-produce self-install panels within their homes, with dual result improving indoor comfort increasing human capital. This paper focuses identification possible second application for face masks through experimental characterization. Panels made were tested water vapor permeability, thermal conductivity, fire resistance use insulating building sector discussed. Based results, suitable do not pose safety concerns, energy consumption improve when installed indoors.

Language: Английский

---

Structure, Morphology, and Surface Chemistry of Surgical Masks and Their Evolution up to 10 Washing Cycles

ACS Applied Polymer Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5(3), P. 2282 - 2288

Published: Feb. 23, 2023

The Covid-19 crisis has led to a massive surge in the use of surgical masks worldwide, causing risks shortages and high pollution. Various decontamination techniques are currently being studied reduce these by allowing reuse masks. In this study, were washed up 10 times, each cycle under same conditions. consequences washing cycles on structure, fiber morphology, surface chemistry have been through several characterization techniques: scanning electron microscopy, wetting angle measurements, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoelectrons spectroscopy. process did not induce large changes hydrophobicity surface, contact remaining constant throughout cycles. composition observed IR spectrum also remained unchanged for Some slight variations during analysis: crystallinity fibers as well size crystals increases with number wash XPS analysis shows that after cycles, underwent oxidation. SEM images, arrangement fibers, which more visible times mask washed: they align themselves bundles, form areas holes layer, crushed some areas.

Language: Английский

---

Efficacy Evaluation of Cu- and Ag-Based Antibacterial Treatments on Polypropylene Fabric and Comparison with Commercial Products

Coatings, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(5), P. 919 - 919

Published: May 14, 2023

Filter masks are disposable devices intended to be worn in order reduce exposure potentially harmful foreign agents of 0.1–10.0 microns. However, perform their function correctly, these should replaced after a few hours use. Because this, billions non-biodegradable face globally discarded every month (3 million/minute). The frequent renewal masks, together with the strong environmental impact plastic-based mask materials, highlights need find solution this emerging ecological problem. One way decrease turnover, and, at same time, increase safety level is make them able inhibit pathogen proliferation and vitality by adding antibacterial materials such as silver, copper, zinc, graphene. Among these, silver copper most widely used. In study, aim improving commercial devices’ efficacy eco-sustainability, Ag-based Cu-based treatments were performed characterized from morphological, compositional, chemical–physical, microbiological points view over time compared selected products. results demonstrated good distribution particles onto surface along almost 100% capabilities coatings against both Gram-positive Gram-negative bacteria, which still confirmed even several washing cycles, thus indicating potential developed prototypes for application.

Language: Английский

---

Antimicrobial Performance of an Innovative Technology of Atmospheric Plasma Reactors against Bioaerosols: Effectiveness in Removing Airborne Viable Viruses

Buildings, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(10), P. 1587 - 1587

Published: Oct. 1, 2022

Reducing the exposure to airborne contaminants, including bioaerosols containing viruses, is a key challenge in context of indoor air quality. This study aims assess effectiveness innovative Atmospheric Plasma Reactor (APR) technology, which can be included cleaner devices, as an engineering control tool for reducing concentration viable viruses. We investigated KillViDTM APR technology that uses ultra-high electric fields and pulsed power plasma directly electroporate living cells produce advanced oxidizing species situ within micro-droplet aerosols pathogens treated. An experimental setup was developed order aerosolize high virus suspension into cleaner, 3 or 6 modules 215 atmospheric micro-reactors. As surrogate, we used phi11 bacteriophage aerosolized using vibrating mesh nebulizer. The viability viruses after single pass through assessed by quantifying lysis specific Staphylococcus aureus host strain. were able demonstrate our virucidal results robust showed 5-log reduction (99.999%) terms activity 3-module configuration, while observed at least 6-log (from initial viral load 9.25 × 105 PFU 0) 6-module configuration.

Language: Английский

---

Sterilization and Filter Performance of Nano‐ and Microfibrous Facemask Filters – Electrospinning and Restoration of Charges for Competitive Sustainable Alternatives

Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 27, 2024

Abstract Facemask materials have been under constant development to optimize filtration performance, wear comfort, and general resilience chemical mechanical stress. While single‐use polypropylene meltblown membranes are the established go‐to material for high‐performing mask filters, they neither sustainable nor particularly resistant sterilization methods. Herein an in‐depth analysis is provided of efficiency, breathing resistance selected aerosol filters commonly implemented in facemasks, with a particular focus on benefits nanofibrous filters. After establishing overview over face machine washing parameters required successful decontamination, respective changes filter performance structure presented. Sustainably manufactured, highly efficient, but also more fragile electrospun not only offer competitive as well environment‐friendly production degradation process, support subsequent recharging approach via alcohol exposition drying electric field. It further elaborated prospective sustainability each clear outlook most promising future.

Language: Английский

---