Plaster of Paris (POP) is one of the recalcitrant wastes generated from dentistry and orthopaedic materials used in healthcare sector. The current practice of disposal of POP waste-harbouring biomedical material by incineration is very critical and environmentally unfriendly. The eco-friendly and rapid disintegration of such biomedical-related POP waste was done by treating with ammonium bicarbonate solution (20% w/v ABC) to form non-hazardous products like ammonium sulphate and calcium carbonate in the form of sludge. The ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4 is generally used in agriculture as a chemical fertilizer and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as an additive in construction sector making this process cost-effective and value addition. Interestingly, 20% ABC solution also had significant antibiofilm, antimicrobial activity against fungi, yeast and bacterial strains probably due to its high pH-driven osmotic effect. Therefore, 20% ABC solution finds dual eco-friendly application in disinfection of used POP, especially arising from biomedical waste from patients.

Foreign