Assessment of aerobic biodegradability of face masks

Nena Šilić

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Face masks and respirators primarily made of synthetic polymers have, either due to regulative obligations or personal protection, become an essential item in the COVID-19 global pandemics. Frequently overlooked and neglected consequence of the ongoing situation is increasing plastic pollution and blooming waste accumulation in both marine and terrestrial environments. Apropos that, an experimental laboratory work for observing biodegradability of facial protective equipment was conducted under aerobic conditions, without bioaugmentation or biostimulation, in order to simulate real-world processes. During 120 days, the environmental fate of selected face masks, buried in jars with Cambisol of the Tiché údolí nature protected area, Prague, was observed through measurements of commonly accepted indices of biodegradation, like weight loss or carbon dioxide production from microbial respiration. Same as soil, masks were not pre-treated or manipulated in any way that could obstruct non-enhanced setting of the experiment. As expected, the inert polymeric face masks underwent no signs of biodegradation, while reference biodegradable face masks made of rice paper, showed signs of decomposition, although not ultimate mineralization. Overall, biodegradability of face masks is relatively new, but highly contemporary topic that logically imposes itself in the current situation. This thesis wants to ensure that environmental considerations of legislations are taken into account by shedding light on the problem of persistency of masks in the environment.

Keywords

face mask, waste, literring, biodegradability, aerobic, assessment

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 28. 3. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Lenka Wimmerová, MSc Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Environmental Sciences

Bachelor programme:
Environmental Engineering