Insights into Thermal Degradation Behaviors and Reaction Kinetics of Medical Waste Infusion Bag and Nasal Oxygen Cannula

The thermal degradation behaviors and reaction kinetics of medical waste infusion bag (IB) and nasal oxygen cannula (NOC) were investigated under inert atmosphere with the heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 25 K center dot min(-1). Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), and Friedman were employed to estimate the activation energy. Coats-Redfern and Kennedy-Clark methods were adopted to predict the possible reaction mechanism. The results suggested that the reaction mechanism of IB pyrolysis was zero-order, and that of NOC pyrolysis was concluded that zero-order for the first stage and three-dimensional diffusion Jander equation for the second stage. Based on the kinetic compensation effect, the reconstructed reaction models for IB and NOC pyrolysis were elaborated by introducing adjustment functions. The results indicated that the reconstructed model fitted well with the experimental data. The results are helpful as a reference and provide guidance for the determination of IB and NOC degradation behaviors and the simulation of parameters.

Automated summary

This study investigated the thermal degradation behaviors and reaction kinetics of medical waste infusion bag and nasal oxygen cannula under inert atmosphere. Different methods were employed to estimate activation energy and predict reaction mechanisms. The results indicated zero-order reaction mechanism for infusion bag pyrolysis and a combination of zero-order and three-dimensional diffusion for nasal oxygen cannula. By introducing adjustment functions, reconstructed reaction models were proposed and found to fit well with experimental data. These findings provide valuable reference for understanding the degradation behaviors and simulating parameters of these medical waste products.