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<ul><li>Indian scientists have suggested a method to convert the <keyword id="34567" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="plastic">plastic</keyword> used in <keyword id="2493103" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-protective-equipment">personal protective equipment</keyword> (PPE) into renewable liquid fuels, an advance that could help mitigate the problem of dumped PPE, currently being disposed of at unprecedented levels due to the COVID-19 pandemic. </li><li>According to the study, published in the journal Biofuels, billions of items of disposable PPE can be converted from its plastic state into biofuels using a high-temperature chemical process called pyrolysis. </li><li>According to the researchers, when these plastic materials are discharged into the environment they end up in landfill or oceans, as their natural degradation is difficult at ambient temperature. </li></ul> Indian scientists have suggested a method to convert the plastic used in personal protective equipment (PPE) into renewable liquid fuels, an advance that could help mitigate the problem of dumped PPE, currently being disposed of at unprecedented levels due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the study, published in the journal Biofuels, billions of items of disposable PPE can be converted from its plastic state into biofuels using a high-temperature chemical process called pyrolysis. Sapna Jain, lead author of the study from The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, noted in a statement that the transformation into biocrude -- a type of synthetic fuel -- "will not just prevent the severe after-effects to humankind and the environment but also produce a source of energy". "Presently, the world is focusing to combat COVID-19, however, we can foresee the issues of economic crisis and ecological imbalance also. We have to prepare ourselves to meet the challenges which are forcefully imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, so as to maintain sustainability," Jain said. She said the disposal of PPE is a concern owing to its material -- non-woven polypropylene (plastic) -- adding that these are being designed for single use followed by disposal. According to the researchers, when these plastic materials are discharged into the environment they end up in landfill or oceans, as their natural degradation is difficult at ambient temperature. "They need decades to decompose. Recycling these polymers requires both physical methods and chemical methods," Jain said. She said the proposed strategy is a suggestive measure addressing the anticipated problem of disposal of PPE. In the study, the scientists explored the current policies around the disposal of PPEs, their polypropylene content, and the feasibility of converting them into biofuel. They focused on the structure of polypropylene, its suitability for PPE, why it poses an environmental threat, and methods of recycling the plastic material. Based on their analysis, the scientists call for the PPE waste to be converted into fuel using pyrolysis -- a chemical process for breaking down plastic at high temperature between 300 to 400 degree Celsius for an hour without oxygen. "Pyrolysis is the most commonly used chemical method whose benefits include the ability to produce high quantities of bio-oil which is easily biodegradable," study co-author Bhawna Yadav Lamba said. "There is always a need for alternative fuels or energy resources to meet our energy demands. The pyrolysis of plastics is one of the methods to mitigate our energy crisis," Lamba added. She said the challenges of PPE waste management and increasing energy demand could be addressed simultaneously by the production of liquid fuel from PPE kits. "The liquid fuel produced from plastics is clean and has fuel properties similar to fossil fuels," Lamba said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/zerodha-valued-itself-at-1-billion-hurun-unicorn-startups-list-bumps-it-up-to-3-billion-but-founder-says-valuation-doesnt-matter/articleshow/77347721.cms">Zerodha valued itself at $1 billion, Hurun unicorn startups list bumps it up to $3 billion but founder says valuation doesn't matter</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tech-mahindra-wants-25-30-of-its-employees-working-from-home-permanently-by-june-2021/articleshow/77346959.cms">INTERVIEW: Tech Mahindra wants 25-30% of its employees working from home permanently by June 2021 — CFO explains how they got to that number</a>

Disposed PPE could be turned into biofuel, say Indian scientists

<ul><li>Several incidences of abusive behavior across the country show that health workers are facing unexpected problems while battling the deadly Coronavirus pandemic. </li><li>There were reports that quarantined people in Delhi misbehaved with the nurses. </li><li>In Indore, a shocking video of an angry local mob attacking healthcare workers and civic officials was recorded on camera. </li></ul>A couple of weeks ago, the whole country was cheering the frontline warriors of the coronavirus fighting the battle for all of India. However, several incidences of abusive behaviour across the country explains that these healthcare workers are facing unexpected problems while battling the deadly Coronavirus pandemic. "Occupants were unruly since morning and made unreasonable demands for food items. They misbehaved and abused staff at the quarantine centre. They started spitting all over and on persons working/attending them including doctors. They also started roaming around the hostel building,” said Deepak Kumar, CPRO, Northern Railway. On April 1, a few participants of Tablighi Jamaat, who have been put in quarantine facilities in Delhi, sang obscene songs and misbehaved with healthcare staff and spat at the doctors and nurses. In Indore, a shocking video of an angry local mob attacking healthcare workers and civic officials was recorded on camera. Moreover, 100 other locals were abusing the health workers who came to take the samples. Seven people were arrested in this incident for injuring two female doctors in Taatpatti Bakhal area of Madhya Pradesh. <div type="twitter" handle="anandrai177" handlename="Dr.ANAND RAI" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1242484839447588865/8P1qAi2b_normal.jpg" favoritecount="3206" retweetcount="2005" status="Attack on doctors during sample collection in tatpatti bakhal, indore. This is shameful,how we will work in this a… https://t.co/WSDRle8pke" createdat="1585763521000" id="1245408589931397121"></div>Separately, a doctor and other health workers in Hyderabad were also assaulted by the relatives of a 49-year old who succumbed to coronavirus. Indian health authorities are fighting against the stigma and taboo that has been in India for a long time. If there’s anything that India has learnt in the last few years is that mob mentality spreads like wildfire. There’s no sealing the panic and unruly behaviour Whatsapp rumours can cause. Facing the danger Apart from the abuse, healthcare workers are facing serious dangers too. Most doctors lack PPE kits that can protect them from catching infection as they come in contact with the infected. They are also frustrated with the fact that many people take the transmission and contraction casually. “There have been some isolated incidents that have been unfortunate and that have lowered the morale of the community, when they are not given the kind of cooperation they want. They could be comfortably sitting at home, being on social media, watching TV. But, they are risking their lives and one would expect everyone to come together and be responsible and would cooperate,” Anupam Sibal, group medical director and senior pediatrician with the Apollo Hospital Group Moreover, the scale of this outbreak can also cause trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder. These people have been separating themselves from their families to prevent infection, resulting in anxiety and depression. The long hours and stressful work isn’t helping either. While India is yet to deal with any such cases, a<a href="https://ourcommunitynow.com/news-local/colorado-er-doctor-brings-comfort-dog-to-hospital-to-soothe-health-care-wokers"> hospital in Colorado in the US</a> brought comfort dogs to soothe the team of doctors fighting coronavirus which allows them to calm down while meditating with the dog. In India however few measures are being taken to calm the nerves. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/videos/misc/indians-got-so-excited-about-janta-curfew-they-failed-its-purpose-in-battling-coronavirus/videoshow/74961421.cms">Coronavirus cases in India </a>

Indian doctors have an unexpected problem while battling Coronavirus

New Delhi, May 14 () Large quantities of sanitiser, PPE kits, masks and its raw materials being sent abroad illegally have been seized by customs officials at the cargo terminal here, officials said. The goods were mis-declared as garments, kids dresses, cosmetic items and packing materials for pouches to avoid suspicion and further scrutiny by the customs officials, officials said on Thursday. The export of such goods is prohibited by the government due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries have either increased the production of such products or ordered their imports owing to demands as they stare at its possible shortage. Giving details of the seizures, a senior customs official said 2,480 kg of raw material for masks was intercepted by air cargo export. In addition to these, the air cargo officers intercepted multiple shipments containing 5.08 lakh masks, 57 litres of sanitiser in 950 bottles and 952 PPE kits at the courier terminal in New Delhi, he said. "These were attempted to be smuggled or exported out of the country to the United States, United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and other European countries," the official said. These goods are prohibited for export as per the latest guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). No arrests have been made so far in the case and further investigation is continuing. AKV SMNSMN

Masks, PPE kits being sent abroad illegally seized by customs

New Delhi, May 11 () Packaging services provider <keyword id="2947488" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bizongo">Bizongo</keyword> on Monday said it has delivered more than two lakh <keyword id="2493103" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-protective-equipment">personal protective equipment</keyword> (PPE) kits across India as part of its contribution in the fight against coronavirus pandemic.These PPEs were distributed in 5,500 localities, servicing 127 organisations spread in 57 urban and rural centres across the country. The recipients of the kits include public and private healthcare service providers, NGOs and private sector organisations, Bizongo said in a statement. "Bizongo worked with NGOs like HT Parekh Foundation, ATE <keyword id="8979806" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="chandra-foundation">Chandra Foundation</keyword>, Piramal Swasthya, Foundation for Ecological Security, Christian Medical Association of India to ensure the critical PPE kits reached a larger number of people at the forefront of fighting COVID-19," its COO Sachin Agarwal said. The company also supplied these safety kits to private enterprises, including Swiggy, BigBasket, <keyword id="8681398" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Urban-Company">Urban Company</keyword>, <keyword id="830092" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zomato">Zomato</keyword> and Shadowfax , which continue to provide essential services during the lockdown, he said. Bizongo has also set up a dedicated taskforce to work round the clock through an online control room to map demand and supply of PPE kits and other essentials using its proprietary digital supply chain services, he added. In the meantime, Agarwal said, "Bizongo continues to supply packaging material to all the essential goods suppliers, including e-com, pharma, diagnostic labs, dairy and food services companies". Correction: Bizongo clarified that did not 'donate' but 'delivered' 2 lakh PPE kits.

Bizongo delivered over 2 lakh PPE kits in fight against coronavirus

New Delhi, Apr 20 () Leading institutions of the country have developed a mission-critical personal protection kit for health workers to fight the deadly coronavirus infection, the World University of Design said in a statement on Monday. The prototypes of PPE Kits are currently undergoing the second round of testing in a Chennai hospital and are expected to go into production within this week, World University of Design vice chancellor Dr Sanjay Gupta said. IIT Delhi, AIIMS, World University of Design and Chennai-based extile Mills have jointly developed the kit, he mentioned."The design and production of these kits is open source, therefore any small or medium scale factory interested can take the design from us and start manufacturing them. The key feature of this design is the ease of doffing, where the garment can be taken off by the person without touching the infected outer surface. The prototypes for these kits have been created following the required protocol," Gupta said.There has been a huge shortage of PPE kits and hundreds of health workers have fallen prey to coronavirus in absence of his mission critical tool. According to the health ministry update on Monday, the death toll due to the coronavirus has reached 559 and the number of cases has risen to 17,656 across the country.However, a tally of figures reported by various states and union territories, as of 6.30 PM, showed 17,744 confirmed cases, 2,859 recoveries and 584 deaths. Maharashtra alone has reported 4,600 cases, while Delhi has also crossed 2,000. Gujarat has over 1,800 cases, while Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan are above 1,500 each, closely followed by Madhya Pradesh at over 1,400.Some of the Indian firms have started manufacturing PPE kits in small quantities.Gupta said that a team of researchers from WUD has designed the PPE sets keeping in mind the ease of donning and doffing the PPE without help. "These sets are designed to make them fit Indian body shapes and sizes. They help avoid loose, hanging parts which may come in contact with infected surfaces and get contaminated. There are no unnecessary openings which may aid the contagion to pass through the PPE, thereby infecting the person in question. Even micro-openings created while stitching the garment, which may provide a pathway for the virus to enter, are sealed off along with the seams," the statement said.Loyal Textile Mills will start production once the suit sealing machine reaches the factory. "The design involving a minimum number of seams not only minimizes the risk of seam leakage but is also fast and cheap to produce. Special barrier fabrics which are breathable and provide the highest liquid barrier protection level are used to make the PPE. A combination of all this makes it the perfect PPE kit designed to meet the challenge posed by the covid-19," the statement said. A PPE kit includes goggles, face-shield, mask, gloves, coverall/gowns (with or without aprons), head cover and shoe cover.The World University of Design and IIT Delhi have been working closely on the research, development and promotion of functional clothing for various medical applications. PRS MR

Indigenous PPE kit developed to fight coronavirus, production may start this week

PNB Housing Finance on Wednesday said it has signed a pact with IIT-Delhi for developing sustainable and reusable <keyword id="2493103" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-protective-equipment">personal protective equipment</keyword> (PPE) kits for healthcare workers.Under the agreement, the <keyword id="261982" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="PNB-Housing-Finance-Ltd">PNB Housing Finance Ltd</keyword> (PNBHFL) will support research and development of a unique prototype material to be used in manufacturing sustainable (washable and reusable) PPE surgical gowns and masks. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75571397" title="Sanofi, one of the largest drug makers, will test experimental coronavirus vaccine on humans starting September" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The PPE kits developed will then be supplied to government hospitals, PNBHFL said in a release. In managing patients afflicted with the highly-contagious COVID-19, healthcare workers rely heavily on PPE kits in protecting themselves from being infected or infecting others. But a shortage of PPE kits is exposing doctors, nurses and other frontline workers to the risk of infection while caring for COVID-19 patients. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75570106" title="Long queues as Telangana re-opens liquor shops after 43 days shutdown" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75569270" title="Aarogya Setu denies privacy breach, contradicts ethical hacker’s claims" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

PNB Housing Finance signs pact with IIT Delhi to develop sustainable PPE kits

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Disposing of COVID-19 <keyword id="13407633" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="medical-waste" source="Orion">medical waste</keyword> puts an increasing strain on our waste and <keyword id="12063226" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="recycling" source="Orion">recycling</keyword> systems.</li><li>One problem arises when people try to recycle <keyword id="11917128" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="masks" source="Orion">masks</keyword>, which cannot be recycled traditionally.</li></ul>Disposable masks, cloth face coverings, used gloves, and other <keyword id="12953431" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="personal-protective-equipment" source="Orion">personal protective equipment</keyword> (<keyword id="12380744" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ppe" source="Orion">PPE</keyword>) are some of the <a href="https://wasteadvantagemag.com/a-retrospective-look-at-2020-and-forecasts-for-2021/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extra waste</a> that people have been generating over the past two years as they've tried to protect themselves during the pandemic. The World Health Organization released a <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/01-02-2022-tonnes-of-covid-19-health-care-waste-expose-urgent-need-to-improve-waste-management-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> in February stating that the influx — tens of thousands of tons — of COVID-19 medical waste is putting a strain on healthcare waste systems, which could pose both environmental and health risks. It's also affecting traditional waste management and recycling systems.<div type="image" title="headshot of Sue Kauffman" height="3369" width="4492" msid="90296678" hostid="261"></div>"As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, waste and recycling haulers experienced a clear increase in the amount of waste being collected due to marked increase of takeout orders and the explosion in single-use PPE," <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/suemcgillkauffman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sue Kauffman</a>, North American public relations director at recycling company <a href="https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TerraCycle</a>, told Insider.Most of these items end up in landfills, she said, but many "well-intentioned but misinformed" people throw PPE waste — which can't be recycled through traditional means — into their curbside recycling bins with the hope that it'll get recycled."This is a counter-productive practice known as 'wishcycling,' and it leads to clogs in machinery, which translate to losses in time and otherwise recyclable material," Kauffman added.Several companies like <a href="https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TerraCycle</a> are offering solutions for recycling PPE, and Kauffman said the demand for these services has soared over the past two years.<h2>The problem of PPE ending up in traditional recycling bins</h2><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-keller-68a9385b/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pete Keller,</a> vice president of recycling and <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> at <a href="https://www.republicservices.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republic Services</a>, a business and residential waste disposal and recycling company that works in <a href="https://www.republicservices.com/about-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">47 states</a>, said more cloth and disposable masks, gloves, and at-home COVID-19 test kits are ending up in trash and recycling streams these days, though he doesn't have data on exactly how much."We went from seeing almost none of that type of material to seeing it show up in some of our recycling streams," he said. "When you think about what's in the <keyword id="11898165" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="garbage" source="Orion">garbage</keyword> can, we don't sort through that. But clearly, there's an increase in that type of material."Overall residential waste generation is about 3% to 4% higher than pre-pandemic levels, with commercial waste close to pre-2020 rates, Keller said. Residential trash had increased by about 25% and commercial had decreased by 35% in the early days of the pandemic.<a href="https://www.republicservices.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republic Services</a> doesn't recycle masks, gloves, or COVID-19 tests, but Keller said any cardboard packaging that comes with these items is likely recyclable.PPE can contaminate other recyclables, he added. Recycling machinery is calibrated to process specific items like glass, paper, cardboard, and plastics and isn't equipped to handle interloping items, like masks. Kauffman said these contaminants — like other non-recyclable items that inadvertently end up in recycling bins — can clog up or damage machines, which can be costly for municipalities' recycling programs.There's also a fear that PPE that's been exposed to COVID-19 could infect frontline waste management workers who may not be properly protected to handle hazardous waste, Kauffman added.<h2>Some companies are offering solutions to PPE waste</h2>Even though <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mask-mandates-democratic-governors-cdc-president-joe-biden-2022-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mask mandates are being lifted</a> across the country, they're still required in some situations, like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airplanes-are-the-final-front-in-the-mask-warsand-the-battle-is-about-to-escalate-2022-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flying</a> or using public transportation, and people <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/10/the-people-who-want-to-keep-masking-its-like-an-invisibility-cloak" target="_blank" rel="noopener">still choose to wear them</a> in other situations. So PPE waste will continue to increase.Several private companies are offering solutions for recycling these items. French company <a href="https://www.plaxtil.com/recyclagemasques?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plaxtil</a> recycles masks and other fabrics by <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20200827-face-mask-recycling-french-firm-finds-way-to-re-use-covid-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transforming them into a plastic-like material</a> that can be molded into many different objects. British firm <a href="https://www.reworked.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ReFactory</a> launched <a href="https://www.reworked.com/2020/10/22/reclaimthemask-what-is-reclaim-the-mask-recycling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reclaim the Mask</a>, a program that recycles disposable masks, gloves, and visors into plastic boards.TerraCycle's <a href="https://tcrwusa.com/collections/ppe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EasyPak recycling systems</a>, which range in price from $128 to $293, are designed for property and facility managers for getting rid of disposable masks, disposable gloves, and safety equipment.The company's <a href="https://zerowasteboxes.terracycle.com/collections/ppe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PPE Zero Waste Boxes</a>, starting at $88, are available for individuals, institutions, or businesses to recycle masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes, and other items. Kauffman said users fill the box with the waste and ship it back to TerraCycle using a prepaid label, and the items are separated by material type and processed. There was a 145% increase in sales of Zero Waste Boxes that solve for PPE year-over-year from 2019 to the start of the pandemic in 2020 in Canada.<div type="image" title="bales of recyclable material behind a worker" height="4156" width="5541" msid="90296679" hostid="261"></div>"The resulting recycled material is used by third parties to manufacture a variety of new products," Kauffman said. These products include outdoor furniture and decking, plastic shipping pallets, storage containers, tubes for construction applications, and more.<div type="image" title="COVID-19 PPE waste ground up in a box" height="4154" width="5539" msid="90296680" hostid="261"></div>Research published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721005957" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Science of the Total Environment</a> in 2021 suggested that single-use masks can be repurposed into pavement bases and sub-bases, as mask materials can improve ductility, flexibility, and strength."Not recycling and allowing otherwise usable materials to become waste is just that — a waste," Kauffman said. "By recycling otherwise non-recyclable material, we're able to capture and reuse material destined for landfills, recycle it into a form suitable for manufacturers, and eliminate the need to extract new raw material."

You Searched For "ppe kits" and got 7 results

Disposed PPE could be turned into biofuel, say Indian scientists

PTI

Indian doctors have an unexpected problem while battling Coronavirus

Preeti Soni

Masks, PPE kits being sent abroad illegally seized by customs

PTI

Bizongo delivered over 2 lakh PPE kits in fight against coronavirus

PTI

Indigenous PPE kit developed to fight coronavirus, production may start this week

PTI

PNB Housing Finance signs pact with IIT Delhi to develop sustainable PPE kits

PTI

COVID-19 medical waste is putting a strain on removal systems. Here are the companies trying to solve the problem.

Erica Sweeney

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