Thermal conversion of waste plastics into fuel oil

Abstract

As a means of converting abundant waste to wealth, thermal conversion of waste plastics of four different types (low and high density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and mixed plastics) was carried out in a batch reactor made of stainless steel at temperatures between 170 and 3000 0 C under atmospheric pressure. The vapor produced from melting the plastics was condensed to form the liquid hydrocarbon (fuel oil) product. Standards were followed for each of the waste plastics during the production process of the liquid fuel oil. The effect of reaction time and product yield were investigated. The physical properties measured include product density and specific gravity. The liquid products formed were characterized using FT-IR spectrometer (Spectrum 100 Perkin-Elmer). The heat combustion properties of the fuels produced were compared using ASTM D240. Also the API gravity and Sulphur content analysis were carried out using the ASTM D4052 and 4053 respectively. The chemical properties of the liquid product were compared for each of the samples and it was found that they vary from each waste plastic. Each of the liquid products contained low sulfur, but each of them varied from each other.

Production of Fuel Oil from Municipal Plastic Wastes Using Thermal and Catalytic Pyrolysis

“…Understanding this problem led to the development of several methods including chemical depolymerization, gasification, pyrolysis and catalytic degradation [8][9][10][11]. The products from tertiary recycling are often hugely varied depending on the process parameters utilized in plastic production [12][13][14]. Intrinsically, vast number of researches have been performed to ascertain the conditions which produce the highest value of product yields.…”

“…In the present study, the investigation on catalytic pyrolysis of a mixture of LDPE and HDPE plastic wastes was conducted to determine the potentiality of the locally available clay catalyst for plastic wastes degradation. The degradation of plastic wastes with catalytic pyrolysis is very important as it is the most economically viable and sustainable process of producing fuel oil [12][13][14]. Therefore, the present study focused on the investigation of activated montmorillonite clay in catalyzing the pyrolysis reaction of the blend of LDPE and HDPE plastic wastes and comparing it with the conventional catalyst (Aluminium chloride).…”

Production of Fuel Oil from Municipal Plastic Wastes Using Thermal and Catalytic Pyrolysis

“…Understanding this problem led to development of several methods including chemical depolymerization, gasification, pyrolysis and catalytic degradation [8][9][10][11]. The products from tertiary recycling are often hugely varied depending on the process parameters utilized in the plastic production [12][13][14]. As such, much research has been performed to ascertain the conditions which produce the highest value product yields.…”

“…This process can be further manipulated through the adjustment of process parameters or the addition of catalyst so that the production of specific molecular weight compounds can be achieved making the process more economically viable and sustainable [12][13][14]. In this study the potentiality of activated montmorillonite clay in catalyzing the pyrolysis reaction is investigated and compared with conventional catalyst.…”

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“…3 Plastic waste is a big issue in most developing countries, because the amount of recycled plastic remains low due to the high investment needs and operating cost. 5,6 However, the possibilities exist for the plastics to be recycled, treated and used as raw material, thereby reducing the large volume of waste and the extent of environmental nuisance the waste constitute to urban streets. Recycling of plastics already occurs on a wide scale.…”