Fuel Oil from Municipal Plastic Waste through Pyrolysis with and without Natural Zeolite as Catalysts

Abstract

The main purpose of this work was the possibility to process the plastic waste into an alternative fuel oil through pyrolysis. This pyrolytic fuel can be utilized as an alternative fuel for cookstoves as a liquid petroleum gas (LPG)/kerosene substitute for the household. The pyrolysis was conducted in a design of a simple, inexpensive and easy to operate semi-batch reactors that be applied definitely in urban and rural communities. Two type of plastic wastes were pyrolyzed up to 480°C with and without natural zeolite as catalyst. The higher fuel yield (%) was obtained when using zeolite in the process. The amount of 1000 g of two plastics waste type with natural zeolite yielded 650 mL (65% vol/w) and 550 mL (55% vol/w), respectively. The density of fuel oil product from 0.700 kg/m 3 to 0.710 kg/m 3 , the fuel oil kinematic viscosity in the range of 1.07 cSt to 1.14 cSt, and the heating value of 38 MJ/kg were obtained. The physical properties and the results of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR functional groups of this fuel oil were relatively close to that of conventional kerosene fuels. The operational cost of pyrolysis is about IDR 12,300/liters of fuel oil.

The Use of Heterogeneous Catalysis in the Chemical Valorization of Plastic Waste

“…Naturally occurring silica‐rich zeolites, such as clinoptilolite and mordenite, are studied as potential catalyst materials because they are readily available and inexpensive [99] . Natural zeolites in the protonated form have been used for PP, HDPE, LDPE, PS, PP/HDPE, EVA, and PET degradations and have shown moderate cracking ability and improved yields of liquid product, while also increasing char production [98,99,107,111,112,182–194] . However, catalyst efficiency has been strongly correlated to p/c ratio [191,192] .…”

“…Natural zeolites in the protonated form have been used for PP, HDPE, LDPE, PS, PP/HDPE, EVA, and PET degradations and have shown moderate cracking ability and improved yields of liquid product, while also increasing char production [98,99,107,111,112,182–194] . However, catalyst efficiency has been strongly correlated to p/c ratio [191,192] . For example, when catalyzing polystyrene at a high p/c ratio at 450 °C, natural zeolite has been found to decrease liquid and gas production as compared to thermal degradation while significantly increasing char concentration [111,191] .…”

“…For example, when catalyzing polystyrene at a high p/c ratio at 450 °C, natural zeolite has been found to decrease liquid and gas production as compared to thermal degradation while significantly increasing char concentration [111,191] . The liquid products were found to be a suitable higher heating value (HHV), or gross calorific value for a material, for heating and energy generation after post‐treatment, however it would require further upgrading to be used as transportation fuel due to the high aromatic content [191,192] . At lower p/c ratios, liquid yield at 460 °C for PS degradation increased as compared to thermal degradation [193] .…”

Distilled Waste Plastic Oil as Fuel for a Diesel Engine: Fuel Production, Combustion Characteristics, and Exhaust Gas Emissions

“… 5 , 6 However, according to previous research, there are some cases where the basic fuel properties of crude waste plastic oil were close to commercial gasoline and kerosene. 7 , 8 Essentially, the chemical compositions of liquid fuel from the pyrolysis process are affected by different types of plastic waste. The research established by Istoto et al showed that the chemical compositions of liquid fuel from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS).…”

Performance of Different Catalysts for the In Situ Cracking of the Oil-Waxes Obtained by the Pyrolysis of Polyethylene Film Waste

“…High fuel oil viscosity would cause incomplete combustion and lead to the formation of carbon deposits in the combustion vessel or burner. This parameter also affects the difficulty of ignition and pumping [23]. The addition of a catalyst into the process can result in advantages and better properties of the liquid fraction (lower heavy oil-waxes).…”