Shredded Masks, Gloves, PPE Waste Can Be Turned Into Water & Vinegar. How Is The Miracle Achieved?

Scientists have proposed a method to convert personal protective equipment (PPE) waste into harmless byproducts such as water and vinegar.

Representational Pictures | Getty Images

New Delhi: Can shredded masks, gloves, and medical gowns be turned into water and vinegar? Researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, in collaboration with University of Otago, New Zealand and University of Waterloo, Canada, have just developed this miracle-sounding process.

A Game-Changing Process

The scientists have proposed a method to convert personal protective equipment (PPE) waste into harmless byproducts such as water and vinegar. This process is a potential game changer to the problem of PPE waste filling landfills and polluting oceans and rivers, a statement issued by the University of Auckland said.

Converting non-recyclable PPE into water and vinegar could prove to be the game-changing solution the world needs to prevent the dumping of tonnes of PPE into landfills and oceans on a daily basis. 

How Is The Miracle Achieved?

The miracle of turning non-recyclable PPE into water and vinegar can be achieved in just two steps. First, shredded masks, gloves, gowns, and plastic safety glasses are put in a machine. Next, hot, pressurised water and compressed air are applied, the statement said.

Water and acetic acid, the chemical name for vinegar, are obtained as the end-products.

The PPE-to-liquid process is carried out at a temperature of 300 degrees Celsius, and some gaseous by-products are formed from the process. These are oxygen and low concentrations of carbon dioxide, which can be safely discharged.

A ‘Clean, Chemical-Free Solution’ 

The process takes about an hour in a small prototype machine in a laboratory in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Auckland. Dr Saied Baroutian, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, said that the process is a "clean, chemical-free solution which will be a game changer internationally," according to the statement.

A test tube of shredded unrecyclable PPE that turns into a test tube of clear water and vinegar: extraordinary research in the Faculty of Engineering | Photo: University of Auckland

Baroutian said that the technology used is a hydrothermal deconstruction or valorisation process and it destroys the waste completely. 

Liquid Produced Is Safe, Inert, & Reusable

The liquid produced in the process is safe, inert, and reusable. This is because the vinegar or acetic acid can be used for disinfecting and the water can be reused for the processing cycle, Baroutian explained. This would minimise water consumption and help with sustainability. 

The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, was also involved in the development of the game-changing process. 

How The Miracle-Sounding Process Can Tackle The Covid-19 Healthcare Waste Problem

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the Covid-19 healthcare waste problem as "threatening human environmental health", and the miracle-sounding process is one of the two innovative solutions that link up to tackle this problem, the statement said.

Dr Yvonne Anderson, a senior lecturer at University of Auckland, is leading a project that uses revolutionary technology to disinfect PPE so that it can be reused or recycled safely. The project is a mobile solution that could be shipped to areas where there are PPE shortages. 

Dr Baroutian said that by developing two technologies, one for reusable waste and the other for waste that cannot be reused or recycled, researchers are closing the loop on this ever-growing serious waste issue and providing a circular solution that truly is "clean and green", according to the statement. 

Is The Process Cost-Effective & Environmentally Safe?

The scientists are now taking steps to develop the solutions into a larger scale pilot system. Learning from that, the researchers will develop a full-scale proof of concept, the statement said.

According to Baroutian, that is the point where the researchers can showcase the technology, ensure the designs will work with the flow of PPE waste and find funding or potential partnerships with commercial organisations so these technologies can be implemented in New Zealand and overseas.

The researchers have already completed an economic analysis which shows that a large-scale hydrothermal deconstruction system could process PPE waste at a cost comparable to the current practice of autoclaving and landfilling, the statement said.

Baroutian said that in terms of environment, the savings on offer are huge.