COVID-19 pandemic outbreak dictated the extensive use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by the majority of the population and mostly by frontline professionals. This need triggered a sudden demand that led to a global shortage of available PPEs threatening to have an immense contribution to the virus contamination spread. In these conditions, the need for a local, flexible, and rapid manufacturing method that would be able to cope with the increased demand for PPE fabrication arose. 3D printing proved to be such a manufacturing technique since its working principles make it an ideal technology for local, decentralized production of PPEs meeting the local demands. While considered to be more environmentally friendly than conventional fabrication techniques and aligning well with the principles of sustainability and circular economy, 3D printing can produce waste as the result of potential failed prints and material used for the fabrication of support structures. This paper describes the case of utilizing pre-existing FDM 3D printing equipment in an academic facility for the production of PPEs (face shields) and their distribution according to local demands. The plastic wastes produced were forwarded to a recycling process that led to their conversion to 3D filament that would be returned to the academic facility as raw material for future 3D printing operations. The followed procedure minimized 3D printing waste and led to a zero-waste fabrication case that was initiated in a pandemic for a greater-good cause (production of COVID-19 fighting PPEs) while assimilating the values of sustainability and circular economy.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8084590 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s43615-021-00047-8 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Exploring the antimicrobial potential of pomegranate peel extracts (PPEs): Extraction techniques and bacterial susceptibility.
PLoS One
December 2024
Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Science, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan.
Antimicrobial resistance is increasing globally and is one of the major public health concerns. This highlights the need to search for new antimicrobial agents. Natural fruit by-products are a rich source of bioactive compounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCardiopulmonary exercise testing following acute pulmonary embolism: Systematic review and pooled analysis of global studies.
Pulm Circ
October 2024
Division of Cardiology Henry Ford Health Detroit Michigan USA.
Article Synopsis
- - Recent studies highlight a significant health issue known as "post-PE syndrome" (PPES) in patients who survived pulmonary embolism (PE), with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) being useful for evaluating these individuals.
- - A systematic review analyzed 14 studies involving 804 post-PE patients to assess their exercise capacity and ventilatory efficiency through CPET data collected before August 2023.
- - Findings revealed no major differences in exercise capacity between patients assessed less than six months versus six months or more after PE; however, those evaluated later showed significantly better ventilatory efficiency.
An in-depth study of the oxidative liquefaction process for polymeric waste reduction and chemical production from wind turbine blades and personal protective equipment used in the medical field.
J Environ Manage
August 2024
Department of Air Protection, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, 44-100, Poland.
An in-depth study of the oxidative liquefaction process has been provided to degrade the polymeric waste from personal protective equipment (PPEs) and wind turbine blades (WTBs). Thermogravimetric investigations demonstrate that WTBs have three prominent peaks throughout the degradation, whereas PPEs display solitary peak features. Experiments are carried out employing specific experimental design approaches, namely the Central Composite Face-Centered Plan (CCF) for WTBs and the Central Composition Design with Fractional Factorial Design for PPEs in a batch-type reactor at temperature ranges of 250-350 °C, pressures of 20-40 bar, residence times of 30-90 min, H2O2 concentrations of 15-45 %, and waste/liquid ratios of 5-25 % for WTBs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArtificial Intelligence in Sports Medicine: Reshaping Electrocardiogram Analysis for Athlete Safety-A Narrative Review.
Sports (Basel)
May 2024
Department of Physiology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis in pre-participation examination (PPE) of athletes, enhancing the detection and monitoring of cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular concerns, including sudden cardiac death, pose significant risks during sports activities. Traditional ECG, essential yet limited, often fails to distinguish between benign cardiac adaptations and serious conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlastic Pandemic after COVID-19: A Global Health Concern.
Clin Ter
May 2024
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, India.
Article Synopsis
- - The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in plastic waste due to heightened hygiene practices and the extensive use of personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and Hazmat suits.
- - The surge in production of single-use plastics, particularly in testing and healthcare settings, has created challenges for effective plastic waste management and contributed to growing environmental concerns.
- - To address this issue, it's essential to implement policies that encourage behavioral change, improve waste management strategies, and foster public-private partnerships to mitigate plastic waste and prevent similar crises in the future.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!