IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i7p2619-d1361976.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimisation of Process Parameters to Maximise the Oil Yield from Pyrolysis of Mixed Waste Plastics

Author

Listed:
  • Farjana Faisal

    (Fuel and Energy Research Group, School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia)

  • Mohammad Golam Rasul

    (Fuel and Energy Research Group, School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia)

  • Ashfaque Ahmed Chowdhury

    (Fuel and Energy Research Group, School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Gladstone, QLD 4680, Australia)

  • Md Islam Jahirul

    (Fuel and Energy Research Group, School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia)

Abstract

The study sought to optimise process parameters of thermal pyrolysis of mixed waste plastic (MWP) to maximise pyrolytic oil yield. High-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were used as feedstocks for pyrolysis. Response surface methodology (RSM) and Box–Behnken design (BBD) were used to optimise the pyrolysis process. The optimisation was carried out by varying three independent variables, namely, reaction temperature (460–540 °C), residence time (30–150 min), and size of MWP feedstock (5–45 mm), to increase the liquid oil yield. A BBD matrix was used to generate the design of the experiments, and 15 experiments were conducted. The highest liquid oil yield of 75.14 wt% was obtained by optimising the operating parameters, which were a reaction temperature of 535.96 °C, a reaction time of 150 min, and a feedstock particle size of 23.99 mm. A model was developed to determine the relationships among the independent variables, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate their impact on maximising oil yield. ANOVA results showed that the temperature and residence time had the maximum impact on oil yield, followed by feedstock size. Physicochemical analysis of the properties of the plastic pyrolytic oil (PPO) revealed that the crude PPO obtained from the MWP had higher water (0.125 wt%) and sulfur content (5.12 mg/kg) and lower flash point (<20 °C) and cetane index (32), which makes it unsuitable for use as an automobile fuel. However, these issues can be resolved by upgrading the PPO using different posttreatment techniques, such as distillation and hydrotreatment.

Suggested Citation

  • Farjana Faisal & Mohammad Golam Rasul & Ashfaque Ahmed Chowdhury & Md Islam Jahirul, 2024. "Optimisation of Process Parameters to Maximise the Oil Yield from Pyrolysis of Mixed Waste Plastics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:7:p:2619-:d:1361976
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/7/2619/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/7/2619/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mohammad I. Jahirul & Wenyong Koh & Richard J. Brown & Wijitha Senadeera & Ian O'Hara & Lalehvash Moghaddam, 2014. "Biodiesel Production from Non-Edible Beauty Leaf ( Calophyllum inophyllum ) Oil: Process Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Mani, M. & Nagarajan, G. & Sampath, S., 2011. "Characterisation and effect of using waste plastic oil and diesel fuel blends in compression ignition engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 212-219.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Das, Amar Kumar & Hansdah, Dulari & Panda, Achyut Kumar, 2021. "Thermal balancing and exergetic performance evaluation of a compression ignition engine fuelled with waste plastic pyrolytic oil and different fuel additives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    2. Olatundun, Esther Adedayo & Borokini, Omowumi Oluwatumininu & Betiku, Eriola, 2020. "Cocoa pod husk-plantain peel blend as a novel green heterogeneous catalyst for renewable and sustainable honne oil biodiesel synthesis: A case of biowastes-to-wealth," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 163-175.
    3. Hua Dong & Kun Yang & Guoqing Bai, 2022. "Evaluation of TPGU using entropy - improved TOPSIS - GRA method in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-24, January.
    4. Miranda, Miguel & Cabrita, I. & Pinto, Filomena & Gulyurtlu, I., 2013. "Mixtures of rubber tyre and plastic wastes pyrolysis: A kinetic study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 270-282.
    5. Subramaniam, D. & Murugesan, A. & Avinash, A. & Kumaravel, A., 2013. "Bio-diesel production and its engine characteristics—An expatiate view," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 361-370.
    6. Khatha Wathakit & Ekarong Sukjit & Chalita Kaewbuddee & Somkiat Maithomklang & Niti Klinkaew & Pansa Liplap & Weerachai Arjharn & Jiraphon Srisertpol, 2021. "Characterization and Impact of Waste Plastic Oil in a Variable Compression Ratio Diesel Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, April.
    7. Veronica Winoto & Nuttawan Yoswathana, 2019. "Optimization of Biodiesel Production Using Nanomagnetic CaO-Based Catalysts with Subcritical Methanol Transesterification of Rubber Seed Oil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-13, January.
    8. Piotr Łagowski & Grzegorz Wcisło & Dariusz Kurczyński, 2022. "Comparison of the Combustion Process Parameters in a Diesel Engine Powered by Second-Generation Biodiesel Compared to the First-Generation Biodiesel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.
    9. Das, Amar Kumar & Sahu, Santosh Kumar & Panda, Achyut Kumar, 2022. "Current status and prospects of alternate liquid transportation fuels in compression ignition engines: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    10. Chiong, Meng-Choung & Kang, Hooi-Siang & Shaharuddin, Nik Mohd Ridzuan & Mat, Shabudin & Quen, Lee Kee & Ten, Ki-Hong & Ong, Muk Chen, 2021. "Challenges and opportunities of marine propulsion with alternative fuels," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    11. Bujak, Janusz Wojciech, 2015. "Production of waste energy and heat in hospital facilities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 350-362.
    12. Singh, Deepak Kumar & Tirkey, Jeewan Vachan, 2022. "Performance optimization through response surface methodology of an integrated coal gasification and CI engine fuelled with diesel and low-grade coal-based producer gas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    13. Laureano Costarrosa & David Eduardo Leiva-Candia & Antonio José Cubero-Atienza & Juan José Ruiz & M. Pilar Dorado, 2018. "Optimization of the Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil with Mg-Al Hydrotalcite Using Response Surface Methodology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-9, January.
    14. Francisco Anguebes-Franseschi & Mohamed Abatal & Ali Bassam & Mauricio A. Escalante Soberanis & Oscar May Tzuc & Lauro Bucio-Galindo & Atl Victor Cordova Quiroz & Claudia Alejandra Aguilar Ucan & Migu, 2018. "Esterification Optimization of Crude African Palm Olein Using Response Surface Methodology and Heterogeneous Acid Catalysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, January.
    15. Mohammad I. Jahirul & Farhad M. Hossain & Mohammad G. Rasul & Ashfaque Ahmed Chowdhury, 2021. "A Review on the Thermochemical Recycling of Waste Tyres to Oil for Automobile Engine Application," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-18, June.
    16. Bujak, Janusz Wojciech, 2015. "Heat recovery from thermal treatment of medical waste," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P2), pages 1721-1732.
    17. B. T. Ramesh & Javed Sayyad & Arunkumar Bongale & Anupkumar Bongale, 2022. "Extraction and Performance Analysis of Hydrocarbons from Waste Plastic Using the Pyrolysis Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-10, December.
    18. Chalita Kaewbuddee & Ekarong Sukjit & Jiraphon Srisertpol & Somkiat Maithomklang & Khatha Wathakit & Niti Klinkaew & Pansa Liplap & Weerachai Arjharn, 2020. "Evaluation of Waste Plastic Oil-Biodiesel Blends as Alternative Fuels for Diesel Engines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, June.
    19. Flavio Caresana & Marco Bietresato & Massimiliano Renzi, 2021. "Injection and Combustion Analysis of Pure Rapeseed Oil Methyl Ester (RME) in a Pump-Line-Nozzle Fuel Injection System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-25, November.
    20. Piotr Łagowski & Grzegorz Wcisło & Dariusz Kurczyński, 2024. "Study of Combustion Process Parameters in a Diesel Engine Powered by Biodiesel from Waste of Animal Origin," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-19, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:7:p:2619-:d:1361976. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.