Opportunities and challenges for the application of post-consumer plastic waste pyrolysis oils as steam cracker feedstocks: To decontaminate or not to decontaminate?

Kusenberg, Marvin; Eschenbacher, Andreas; Djokic, Marko; Zayoud, Azd; Ragaert, Kim; Meester, Steven De; Geem, Kevin Van

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2021.11.009

Cited by 161 publications

(180 citation statements)

References 282 publications

(420 reference statements)

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“…PT-Film sample registered the lowest chlorine content (160 ppm). This value, although low, is higher than the value established for use in existing petrochemical plants (3–10 ppm), as stated by some authors [ 51 , 52 , 53 ] However, these pyrolysis oils could probably be blended with other refinery streams before usage and most likely could be used as alternative fuels in cement kilns, where the required chlorine concentration is not usually so low. In the conditions of this work, about 10–30 wt.% of the chlorine content present in the waste samples was transferred to the liquid product.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 71%

Oil Production by Pyrolysis of Real Plastic Waste

et al. 2022

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The aim of this paper is for the production of oils processed in refineries to come from the pyrolysis of real waste from the high plastic content rejected by the recycling industry of the Basque Country (Spain). Concretely, the rejected waste streams were collected from (1) a light packaging waste sorting plant, (2) the paper recycling industry, and (3) a waste treatment plant of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The influence of pre-treatments (mechanical separation operations) and temperature on the yield and quality of the liquid fraction were evaluated. In order to study the pre-treatment effect, the samples were pyrolyzed at 460 °C for 1 h. As pre-treatments concentrate on the suitable fraction for pyrolysis and reduce the undesirable materials (metals, PVC, PET, inorganics, cellulosic materials), they improve the yield to liquid products and considerably reduce the halogen content. The sample with the highest polyolefin content achieved the highest liquid yield (70.6 wt.% at 460 °C) and the lowest chlorine content (160 ppm) among the investigated samples and, therefore, was the most suitable liquid to use as refinery feedstock. The effect of temperature on the pyrolysis of this sample was studied in the range of 430–490 °C. As the temperature increased the liquid yield increased and solid yield decreased, indicating that the conversion was maximized. At 490 °C, the pyrolysis oil with the highest calorific value (44.3 MJ kg−1) and paraffinic content (65% area), the lowest chlorine content (128 ppm) and more than 50 wt.% of diesel was obtained.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 71%

Oil Production by Pyrolysis of Real Plastic Waste

et al. 2022

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“…302 Untreated plastic waste pyrolysis oils with high levels of contaminants are not feasible feedstocks for steam cracking unless sufficiently diluted. 321 Contamination may lead to catalyst deactivation if catalytic upgrading of products is desired. For example, a municipal plastic waste pyrolysis plant in Idaho, U.S.A. produced an oil only suitable for low-value applications due to severe contamination.…”

Section: Variables Affecting Product Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…323,325 The combination of high heat and mass transfer rates are responsible for significant yields of light hydrocarbons and non-condensable gas from the pyrolysis of plastics in fluidized beds. 321,336 Disadvantages include comminution of plastics to achieve small feedstock particles, and complicated reactor setups. 291 Additionally, the high gas velocities required for fluidization can cause entrainment of char particles, requiring particulate separation downstream of the reactor.…”

Section: Reactor Configurationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…363 Many petroleum companies like Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, SABIC, and ExxonMobil, are planning to upgrade pyrolysis oil through steam cracking. [364][365][366][367] However, Kusenberg et al 321 identified that uncertainty in its composition, particularly the presence of contaminants and impurities, have hampered industrialization. Monomers formed from pyrolysis can be used as chemicals or re-polymerized to plastics.…”

Section: Economic Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Expanding Plastics Recycling Technologies: Chemical Aspects, Technology Status and Challenges

Aguirre-Villegas

Allen

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Less than 10% of the plastics generated globally are recycled, while the rest are incinerated, accumulated in landfills, or leach into the environment. New technologies are emerging to chemically recycle waste plastics that are receiving tremendous interest from academia and industry. Chemists and chemical engineers need to understand the fundamentals of these technologies to design improved systems for chemical recycling and upcycling of waste plastics. In this paper, we review the entire life cycle of plastics and options for the management of plastic waste to address barriers to industrial chemical recycling and further provide perceptions on possible opportunities with such materials. Knowledge and insights to enhance plastic recycling beyond its current scale are provided. Outstanding research problems and where researchers in the field should focus their efforts in the future are also discussed.

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“…310,312 The combination of high heat and mass transfer rates are responsible for significant yields of light hydrocarbons and noncondensable gas from the pyrolysis of plastics in fluidized beds. 304,323 Disadvantages include comminution of plastics to achieve small feedstock particles, and complicated reactor setups. 274 Additionally, the high gas velocities required for fluidization can cause entrainment of char particles, requiring particulate separation downstream of the reactor.…”

Section: Reactor Configurationsmentioning

confidence: 99%