Abstract
The recycling rates, especially those from plastic packaging waste, have to be increased according to the European Union directive in the next years. Besides many other technologies, the pyrolysis of plastic wastes seems to be an efficient supplementary opportunity to treat mixed and unpurified plastic streams. For this reason, a pyrolysis process was developed for the chemical recycling of hydrocarbons from waste polyolefins. The obtained products can be further processed and upgraded in crude oil refineries, so that also monomers can be recovered, which are used for the plastic polymerization again. However, to achieve a scale up to a demo plant, a kinetic model for predicting the yields of the plastic pyrolysis in a tubular reactor is needed. For this reason, a pilot plant was built, in which different plastics and carrier fluids can be tested. Based on the data generated at the pilot plant, a very practical and suitable model was found to describe the plastic co-pyrolysis of the carrier fluid with polypropylene (PP) and low density and high density polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE), respectively. The physical and chemical mechanisms of the co-pyrolysis in the tubular reactor are successfully investigated.
Highlights
25.8 Mio. tons of plastic waste are produced in Europe annually [1] and less than 30%of this are collected for recycling
Based on the data generated at the pilot plant, a very practical and suitable model was found to describe the plastic copyrolysis of the carrier fluid with polypropylene (PP) and low density and high density polyethylene (HDPE and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)), respectively
To observe the effects of temperature, pressure, residence time and plastic type on the product yield of the developed process, a pilot plant was build [20], which is used for a kinetic study
Summary
25.8 Mio. tons of plastic waste are produced in Europe annually [1] and less than 30%of this are collected for recycling. 25.8 Mio. tons of plastic waste are produced in Europe annually [1] and less than 30%. High amounts of plastic wastes are sent to incineration, landfilling or are sent to non-EU regions [2]. To overcome this situation, the European Union compiled a mandatory goal to reach a recycling rate of plastic packaging waste of 55% in 2030 [3]. A common challenge of plastic waste is the sorting of different types of plastics and the contamination of waste streams. Beside other technologies, pyrolysis is an attractive way to treat mixed plastic or even contaminated streams. Valuable resources are generated out of organic matter at elevated temperatures in absence of oxygen, which can be used as feedstock for refineries and petrochemical industries again [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
