Comparison of Pyrolysis and Combustion Processes of Vinyl Floor Panels Using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG-FTIR) in Terms of the Circular Economy

Abstract

The article analyzes the thermal degradation in the inert and oxidative atmosphere of waste vinyl panels, the main component of which is PVC. Both pyrolysis and incineration of plastic waste are difficult, complex and multifaceted processes due to several physical and chemical phenomena occurring during their performance. The coupled TG-MS (thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry) analysis combined with the Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR) analysis was used to identify the decomposition mechanisms of waste vinyl panels. Thermogravimetric tests were carried out for two heating rates of 5 and 20 K/min in the temperature range of 40–1000 °C, mass losses were determined, and products resulting from thermal degradation were identified. It was found that the individual components decompose at different temperatures depending on the heating rate and the choice of an inert or oxidative atmosphere. Vinyl floor panels were treated in terms of secondary raw material, which, in the light of the circular economy, may constitute a potential energy or chemical resource.

Studies on the Migration of Sulphur and Chlorine in the Pyrolysis Products of Floor and Furniture Joinery

“…For this purpose, TG/DTG analysis was used, which is designed for the waste discussed in this work. Figures 4 and 5 show an example thermogravimetric analysis for two samples: waste floor panels made of HDF fibreboard and waste floor panels made of vinyl board [4,11]. A similar order of magnitude of mass loss was recorded in TG/DTG tests and in tests performed on a laboratory scale.…”

“…Hence, there is a problem with their proper transformation. The most common method of managing waste flooring and furniture joinery is incineration or co-incineration [7][8][9][10][11]. According to the idea of the circular economy, waste management should be consistent with the waste hierarchy [12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…Research on the use of biochar in energy storage technologies is ongoing [40,49]. In the literature, one can find a lot of information about the pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis of PVC, including with biomass or other plastics [11,35,[50][51][52][53][54][55].…”

Thermal Decomposition Process of Fireproof Sealant Measured with Thermogravimetric and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis and Estimated Using Shuffled Complex Evolution

“…For example, Ding et al [22] discovered the pyrolysis gas components in a no-charring material through a TG-FTIR experiment and used the products as input values for the prediction and simulation of combustion. Malgorzata et al [23] used the TG-FTIR method to compare the gas products of pyrolysis and combustion, confirming that the pyrolysis process was divided into four stages, compared to the five stages of combustion. Norbert et al [24] explored the thermal decomposition behavior of sewage sludge using TG-FTIR experiments.…”