Conversion of waste polypropylene into hydrocarbon fuel – analysis of the effect of batch size on reaction time and liquid yield

Abstract

Abstract:Conversion of waste plastics (Polypropylene) into hydrocarbon fuel was investigated by using a reactor system which consists of a reactor, a condenser and a liquid-gas separator. A maximum waste to fuel conversion of over 99% has been achieved with approximately 47% of liquid yield and 52% of gas yield. The liquids and gasses obtained from the experiments were analysed using a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer unit (GC/MS). Analysis results show that the escaped gas is non condensable at ambient temperature and mainly consists of methane, propylene, isobutane and isobutylene. The analysis results also show that the liquid obtained in the experiments consists of many linear, branched and aromatics hydrocarbon compounds in the range of C5 to C10.Waste polypropylene samples different in weight were used for the experiments to investigate the effects of batch size on the reaction time and the liquid yield at near atmospheric slightly positive pressure. No N2 purging or vacuuming of the reaction zone was used at the start of the experiments. The experimental results showed that the percentage of liquid yield increase with the increase of batch size. The experimental results also showed that the reaction time of 500 g batch size was 100 minutes and that was increased approximately by 15 minutes for every additional 500 g of sample fed into the reactor in respective batches.

A LaFeO3 supported natural‐clay‐mineral catalyst for efficient pyrolysis of polypropylene plastic material

“…Therefore, the percentage and the composition identified in the liquid fraction are not similar. For instance, Rohan et al 41 converted waste PP into hydrocarbon fuel via pyrolysis without catalyst and obtained a liquid substance consisting of linear, branched aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, ranging from C5 to C10. In comparison, Ahmad et al 42 conducted the pyrolysis of PP at 300°C without catalyst.…”