Abstract
A previous paper described the fundamental reaction conditions for recycling waste polyethylene (PE) into oils. With a reaction temperature of 425 °C, reaction time of 120 min, water fill rate of 30 % and a 1：5 PE/water ratio, PE was effectively converted into light fuel oil with a yield of over 90 wt %. This paper investigates a suitable PE/water ratio, the potential to re-circulate the solvent (water) and the influence of the oxygen gas existing in the reaction system. These are prime issues when putting a waste plastic recycling system into practical use. The possibility of high-speed conversion of PE into oils was also examined in cracking experiments at high temperature over a short period of time. (1)A high yield of oil was produced regardless of the PE/water ratio. (2)Re-use of the water as a solvent showed a slight increase in the yield of the oil products and (3)Oxygen gas existing in the reaction system had no effect on the oil yield. In each case, the quality of the oil products was stable. Oxygenated compounds were not detected in the oil products. At a reaction temperature of 500 °C, light oils with a number-average molecular weight of 147 were produced two minutes. The light oils can be used as fuel corresponding to n-decane on a straight-chain hydrocarbon basis. There was no observed coke production, which indicates the possibility of a high-speed oil conversion process for waste plastic.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
