OPTIMIZATION OF MEDICAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) AS A 'SELF CLEANER' AND ANTIVIRAL USING CARBON QUANTUM DOTS (CQDs) FROM RICE STRAW WASTE

Gema Aditya Mahendra; Muhamad Mahfud Muzadi; Nurjaya Nurjaya

Gema Aditya Mahendra Chemical Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
Muhamad Mahfud Muzadi Chemical Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
Nurjaya Nurjaya Chemical Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia

Keywords: COVID-19, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Carbon Quantumdots (CQDs), Rice straw waste, Antiviral

Abstract

COVID-19 cases in the world have reached 100 million cases. One of the preventive measures in preventing COVID-19 is by using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE is a set of medical devices to cover the body consisting of Surgical Masks, N95 Respirators, Eye Protection, Face Shields, Examination Gloves, Surgical Gloves, Disposable Dresses, Medical Coveralls, Heavy Duty Apron, Waterproof Boots, and Shoe Covers . The use of PPE in nowadays can only be used once. Meanwhile, the need for PPE has increased since the COVID-19 case. As a result, the production of PPE becomes crisis and tends to pile up as trash. The idea offered in this project is the use of Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) from rice straw as a self-cleaner and antiviral for PPE. Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) are a zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterial that is below 10 nm in size, has an amorphous structure, and spherical in shape. CQDs has a unique property that called luminescence. The luminescence of CQDs can trigger a photocatalyst reaction so that it can kills virus (antiviral) that attached to the surface of CQDs. In addition, its small dimensions and size can prevent viruses from entering through its surface. The main material used to make CQDs in this project is rice straw waste. By looking at the composition of the rice straw in general, it consist of Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) 77.00%, Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) 57.91%, cellulose 23.05%, hemicellulose 19.09%, and lignin 22.93%. These composition are composed more of the carbon content which has the potential to be the main composition in the manufacture of CQDs. With the idea of this project, it is hoped that it can answer problems regarding the PPE crisis and waste pollution due to PPE.