Resource utilization of medical waste under COVID-19: Waste mask used as crude oil fluidity improver.

The disposal of medical waste has become an increasing environmental issue since the COVID-19 epidemic outbreaks. Conventional disposal methods have produced waste of fossil resources and environmental problems. In this study, the waste medical mask-derived materials were tested as viscosity reducer and pour point depressant to evaluate the possibility of being used as crude oil fluidity improver. The results show that the materials derived from the three parts of the waste medical mask can reduce the viscosity and pour point of each crude oil samples from different oilfields in China. The middle layer of the medical mask (PP-2) displays the highest efficiency, and the viscosity reduction rate and maximum pour point reduction reaches 81% and 8.3 °C at 500 ppm, respectively. A probable mechanism of improving rheological properties of the crude oil samples by the medical mask-derived materials was further proposed after the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and the wax crystal morphology analysis. We hope this work could provide a way to solve the current environmental issues under COVID-19. [Display omitted] • Waste medical mask can improve the fluidity of crude oil samples from different oilfields in China. • The middle layer of the medical mask (PP-2) at 500 ppm exhibits the highest effeciency with a viscosity reduction rate of 81%, and the maximum pour point reduction is 8.3 °C. • Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and paraffin crystal morphology characterization were conducted to support the possible mechanism. • This work provides a way to solve the current environmental problems caused by COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]