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The pyrolysis of individual plastics and a plastic mixture in a fixed bed reactor
Author(s) -
Williams Elizabeth A.,
Williams Paul T.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4660(199709)70:1<9::aid-jctb700>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - polypropylene , polyethylene , polyvinyl chloride , high density polyethylene , low density polyethylene , pyrolysis , char , materials science , polystyrene , yield (engineering) , polymer , polyethylene terephthalate , fraction (chemistry) , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering
Abstract Six thermoplastics, which represent more than two‐thirds of all polymer production in western Europe, were pyrolysed in a static batch reactor in a nitrogen atmosphere. These were high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The heating rate used was 25°C min −1 to a final temperature of 700°C. These six plastics were then mixed together to simulate the plastic fraction of municipal solid waste found in Europe. The effect of mixing on the product yield and composition was examined. The results showed that the polymers studied did not react independently, but some interaction between samples was observed. The product yield for the mixture of plastics at 700°C was 9·63% gas, 75·11% oil, 2·87% char and 2·31% HCl. The gases identified were H 2 , CH 4 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 6 , C 3 H 8 , C 4 H 8 , C 4 H 10 , CO 2 and CO. The composition of oils were determined using Fourier Transform infra‐red spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography. Analysis showed the presence mainly of aliphatic compounds with small amounts of aromatic compounds. ©1997 SCI