Thermochemical Characterization and Pyrolysis Study of Disposable Gloves with Different Polymeric Compositions

Abstract

The intensive use of disposable gloves in sanitary and laboratory applications has led to a significant increase in polymeric waste that is difficult to manage, motivating the search for alternative valorization pathways. In this work, the thermochemical characterization and pyrolysis of disposable latex, nitrile, and 50 wt.% latex–50 wt.% nitrile gloves were investigated in order to evaluate the effect of polymer composition on their thermal behavior, energy potential, and product distribution. Raw material characterization was carried out by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and higher heating value (HHV) determination. TGA results evidenced a higher thermal stability of nitrile gloves compared to latex gloves and allowed the selection of 600 °C as the operating temperature for the pyrolysis experiments. FTIR spectra confirmed the structural differences between the materials and the coexistence of both polymeric matrices in the blended sample. HHV results showed a higher energy potential for nitrile gloves compared to latex gloves, with intermediate values for the blend. During pyrolysis at 600 °C, pure nitrile gloves favored liquid production, whereas latex gloves exhibited a greater tendency toward gas formation; the 50/50 blend showed a non-linear behavior, with a significant increase in the gaseous fraction. Overall, the results demonstrate that raw material composition plays a decisive role in the pyrolysis of disposable gloves and that prior characterization is a key step to guide thermochemical valorization strategies.