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Experimental Study of Thermal and Catalytic Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste Components

Author

Listed:
  • Azubuike Francis Anene

    (Department of Process, Energy and Environmental Technology, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3918 Porsgrunn, Norway)

  • Siw Bodil Fredriksen

    (Norner Research AS, 3962 Stathelle, Norway)

  • Kai Arne Sætre

    (Norner Research AS, 3962 Stathelle, Norway)

  • Lars-Andre Tokheim

    (Department of Process, Energy and Environmental Technology, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3918 Porsgrunn, Norway)

Abstract

Thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of virgin low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and mixtures of LDPE/PP were carried out in a 200 mL laboratory scale batch reactor at 460 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to study the thermal and catalytic degradation of the polymers at a heating rate of 10 °C/min. The amount of PP was varied in the LDPE/PP mixture to explore its effect on the reaction. In thermal degradation (TGA) of LDPE/PP blends, a lower decomposition temperature was observed for LDPE/PP mixtures compared to pure LDPE, indicating interaction between the two polymer types. In the presence of a catalyst (CAT-2), the degradation temperatures for the pure polymers were reduced. The TGA results were validated in a batch reactor using PP and LDPE, respectively. The result from thermal pyrolysis showed that the oil product contained significant amounts of hydrocarbons in the ranges of C 7 –C 12 (gasoline range) and C 13 –C 20 (diesel range). The catalyst enhanced cracking at lower temperatures and narrowed the hydrocarbon distribution in the oil towards the lower molecular weight range (C 7 –C 12 ). The result suggests that the oil produced from catalytic pyrolysis of waste plastics has a potential as an alternative fuel.

Suggested Citation

  • Azubuike Francis Anene & Siw Bodil Fredriksen & Kai Arne Sætre & Lars-Andre Tokheim, 2018. "Experimental Study of Thermal and Catalytic Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste Components," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-11, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:3979-:d:179566
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kunwar, Bidhya & Cheng, H.N. & Chandrashekaran, Sriram R & Sharma, Brajendra K, 2016. "Plastics to fuel: a review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 421-428.
    2. Kaixin Li & Shao Wee Lee & Guoan Yuan & Junxi Lei & Shengxuan Lin & Piyarat Weerachanchai & Yanhui Yang & Jing-Yuan Wang, 2016. "Investigation into the Catalytic Activity of Microporous and Mesoporous Catalysts in the Pyrolysis of Waste Polyethylene and Polypropylene Mixture," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-15, June.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Anna Matuszewska & Marlena Owczuk & Krzysztof Biernat, 2022. "Current Trends in Waste Plastics’ Liquefaction into Fuel Fraction: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-32, April.
    3. Escalante, Jamin & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Tabatabaei, Meisam & Hoang, Anh Tuan & Kwon, Eilhann E. & Andrew Lin, Kun-Yi & Saravanakumar, Ayyadurai, 2022. "Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic, algal, plastic, and other biomass wastes for biofuel production and circular bioeconomy: A review of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    4. Murtadha S. Al-Iessa & Bashir Y. Al-Zaidi & Riaydh S. Almukhtar & Zaidoon M. Shakor & Ihsan Hamawand, 2023. "Optimization of Polypropylene Waste Recycling Products as Alternative Fuels through Non-Catalytic Thermal and Catalytic Hydrocracking Using Fresh and Spent Pt/Al 2 O 3 and NiMo/Al 2 O 3 Catalysts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-29, June.
    5. Eunhye Song & Daegi Kim & Cheol-Jin Jeong & Do-Yong Kim, 2019. "A Kinetic Study on Combustible Coastal Debris Pyrolysis via Thermogravimetric Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-10, March.

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