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

Abstract

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·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.

Special Issue on “Thermal Safety of Chemical Processes”

“…Ozawa-Flynn-Wall, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, and Friedman methods are frequently used to estimate kinetic constants from thermal analysis systems. Zhang et al [11] used these methods to understand the kinetics of the thermal degradation of medical waste infusion bags and nasal oxygen cannulas. Such studies are essential to find reliable kinetic constants, thus understanding thermal runways.…”