Open AccessPlastic Waste Pyrolytic Converter
Author(s) -
Arun Suresh Narayanan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal for research in applied science and engineering technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2321-9653
DOI - 10.22214/ijraset.2021.34468
Subject(s) - polyvinyl chloride , waste management , pyrolysis , polypropylene , polyethylene , environmental science , plastic waste , pulp and paper industry , fuel gas , diesel fuel , materials science , engineering , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , combustion
Estimates show that less than 5% of the plastic manufactured each year is recycled, with production of the material set to increase by 3.8% every year until 2030, adding to the 6.3 billion tonnes churned out since production began 60 years ago. The majority ends up in our oceans, posing a disruption to marine ecosystems, which researchers predict would take a minimum of 450 years to biodegrade, if ever. The main objective of this study were to understand and optimize the process of plastic pyrolysis for maximizing the diesel range products. The technology is not overly complicated, plastics are shredded and then heated in an oxygen free chamber (known as pyrolysis) to about 400 degree Celsius. As the plastic boil, gas generated is separated out and often reused to fuel machine itself. The fuel is then distilled and filtered. Because the entire process takes place inside vacuum and the plastic is melted-not burned, minimal to no toxic gas are released in the air, as all the gases and sludges are reused to fuel the machine. For this technology, the type of plastic you convert to fuel is important. If you burn pure hydrocarbons, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), you will produce fuel that will fairly burn clean. But burn PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and large amounts of chlorine will corrode the reactor and pollute the environment.