Catalytic and Non Catalytic Reactions of Plastic Waste using a Batch Pyrolysis Method for the Generation of Low-Emission Fuel

Abstract

Plastic manufacturing and usage have been increasing world-wide. No alternative materials are introduced effectively till date for plastics. Disposal of plastics caused severe chronic problems to the environment and also to the living beings. Even though many methods were employed to dispose the plastics, pyrolysis is the method of choice for converting waste plastic into low-emissive hydrocarbon fuel. Hence, the present research was aimed to investigate the conversion of waste plastics like high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene into fuel gases and oils using pyrolysis method. In this method, thermal degradation of the waste plastics was carried out up to 400?C in the presence of a catalyst, activated carbon. Similar experimental set up was carried out without catalyst. Increased fuel yield was obtained for the reaction process in the presence of catalyst than in the absence of catalyst. Activated carbon used as catalyst in the pyrolysis process influenced the yield and composition of the fuel. The characteristics values of fuel from the reaction in the presence of activated carbon are lower than the reaction in the absence of activated carbon indicating that the generated fuel is safety.