Comparative Analysis of Kerosene Grade Fuel from Pyrolysis of HDPE and LDPE Waste Plastics

Abstract

To curb the menace of plastic waste and energy crisis, this study investigated the conversion of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) grades of plastics to kerosene. Plastics sourced from dumpsites within Port Harcourt metropolis in Rivers State, Nigeria were shredded and pyrolyzed (thermally degraded under inert condition at a temperature range of 350-400oC). The obtained hydrocarbon liquid was distilled using distillation column at a temperature range of 150-270oC and characterised to evaluate the physico-chemical parameters such as flash point, density, copper corrosion, and calorific value and compared against the acceptable standard. The result showed that these properties were within the permissible limit. However, the sulphur content and smoke point of HDPE and LDPE were above and below the limits, respectively. The GC-MS and GC-FID results of kerosene samples obtained from both grades of plastics indicates that the product comprised C9 to C17 grades.