Thermal Conversion of Waste Plastics (HDPE, PP and PS) to Produce Mixture of Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Thermal conversion process was applied with three types of waste plastic mixture and waste plastics mixture to liquid hydrocarbon fuel production in present of oxygen under laboratory Labconco fume hood without adding any kind of catalyst. Utilization of the process described can reduce the impact of waste plastics significantly. Thermal decomposition of the most common plastics such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrenes (PS) has been conducted to produces a mixture of hydrocarbons. The thermal process applied of mixed waste plastics using a steel reactor at 25-430℃ has been investigated. The reactor was connected with standard condensation unit with water circulator system. Waste plastics are broken down into shorter chain hydrocarbon compounds from long chains during the thermal conversion process without adding catalyst or chemical. Produced fuel was analysis by using GC/MS, FT-IR and DSC and from GC/MS analysis result showed hydrocarbon chain range C 3 to C 28 into fuel and produce fuel can be use as feed stock refinery or power plant for electricity generation or can use for internal combustion engine.

The Effects of Plastic Pollution on Aquatic Wildlife: Current Situations and Future Solutions

“…The thermal degradation is carried out in an oxygen-free stainless steel reactor. Since incineration or combustion does not occur, smoke is not a by-product (Sarker et al 2012c). This process results in minimum waste.…”

“…Thermal degradation may be the new solution to recycling and repurposing plastics such as high-density and lowdensity polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, without causing further environmental degradation (Livingeco 2011). During thermal degradation, petroleum-based plastic are heated to 25 to 430°C and then converted into liquid hydrocarbon fuel (Sarker et al 2012c). The thermal degradation is carried out in an oxygen-free stainless steel reactor.…”

Prediction of the PIONA and oxygenate composition of unconventional fuels with the Pseudo-Component Property Estimation (PCPE) method. Application to an Automotive Shredder Residues-derived gasoline

“…The bisubstituted 1,1-dimethylcyclohexane was also included in the model to consider the possibility to face a di-substituted carbon. Those different types of naphthenes were found during the polystyrene (PS) decomposition [30].…”

Diesel and gasoline like fuel production with minimum styrene content from catalytic pyrolysis of polystyrene

“…Pyrolysis process is comparatively more convenient to recycle polystyrene (PS) due to its higher yield of hydrocarbon liquid fraction 3‐8 . Pyrolysis of PS can generate a wide range of hydrocarbon fractions among which styrene is found to be a major component 5,9 which is a possible potential carcinogen and thus harmful to human health. In order to reduce styrene emissions, catalysts are required, which can minimize styrene formation during pyrolysis of PS.…”