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.