Improvement on the Production Energy of Shale oil Using Waste Plastics

Abstract

An alternative fuels is obtained by co-pyrolysis of waste plastics and oil shale as well as contribute to the search of technologies that reduce the negative environmental impact of waste. Shale oil and waste plastic are unconventional sources of energy. The two materials are significant to Nigeria’s economic sustainability but yet to be exploited efficiently. The aim of this work is to reduce the energy needed to obtain shale oil via kinetic parameters by the thermal decomposition of Lokpanta oil shale mixed with plastics. The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of Lokpanta oil shale/ polyethylene blend was determined using data provided by thermo-gravimetric analysis done at 28°C to 887.44°C with heating rate of 10°C/min and a nitrogen flow rate of 60ml/min. The decomposition of the co-pyrolysis of the mixture of Lokpanta oil shale and the polyethylene was recognized in three stages, of which the first stage was between 28 and 316.41°C which corresponded to the loss of water from the sample. The second stage was between 316.41°C and 481.47°C, which depicted an overlap of the organic matter (kerogen) and the degradation of polyethylene. The final stage was between 481.47°C and 887.44°C, and it exposed the decomposition of the mineral matter of the oil shale. The Kinetic parameter was determined using non-isothermal methods of degradation. Hence the presence of the plastic acted as catalyst in the decomposition of the organic matter of the shale which consequently lowered the activation energy required to obtain shale oil with relevant application as aliphatic fractions of petroleum.