(4mw) Fueling sustainability: Co-pyrolysis of waste nitrile gloves and tissue paper for the sustainable chemicals and fuel

Co-pyrolysis of tissue paper (TP) and nitrile gloves (NG) is a sustainable technique for transforming common waste materials into useful goods that adheres to circular economy and waste-to-energy concepts. Tissue paper, which is predominantly composed of cellulose, and nitrile gloves, which are constructed of synthetic polymers such as acrylonitrile and butadiene, have differing thermal breakdown properties. Their co-pyrolysis increases product yields and quality while also enhancing energy recovery and biochar characteristics. The physicochemical analysis of the NG indicates 74.09% carbon and 8.49% hydrogen, whereas for TP the carbon percent is 41.15 and hydrogen percent is 5.67. Pyrolysis experiments were carried out in a fixed bed reactor with different biomass-to-plastic ratios. The results showed that at 3:7 TP to NG ratio the bio-oil generation was highest (36.8 wt. %). Further, the characterization results of bio-oil based on FTIR indicated different functional groups. The XRD results of the TP indicated a broad hump at 24 degrees, whereas in case of NG several peaks were noticed. This study demonstrates the possibility for co-pyrolyzing cellulosic and polymeric wastes to reduce environmental impact and increase resource recovery.

Teaching Interests:

I am passionate about teaching subjects related to chemical engineering, sustainable energy production, and environmental management. My teaching philosophy centers around engaging students in active learning and critical thinking, particularly in areas such as sustainable chemical processes, renewable energy, and waste management techniques.

As a teaching assistant for both Thermodynamic and Bioprocess Engineering courses, I am dedicated to teaching core chemical engineering concepts. I also enjoy helping students bridge the gap between theory and practice, particularly through problem-solving in real-world scenarios, such as energy systems and biochemical process design.

Research Interests:

My research focuses on sustainable energy production through biomass conversion technologies, particularly co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastic waste, to produce renewable fuels, biochar, and bio-oil. I am particularly interested in bio-oil characterization, investigating its properties and potential as a sustainable energy source. Additionally, I explore the use of biochar for environmental applications, including soil remediation and the treatment of water and wastewater, where biochar is employed to remove heavy metals and other contaminants.

In the future, I aim to expand my research into carbon capture technologies and the application of machine learning to optimize environmental systems, driving innovative solutions for renewable energy production and sustainable waste management.